In response to the Congressional hearing which saw major social media companies including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Discord, Snapchat, and TikTok being scrutinised for their policies and practices to protect minors online, it is of the utmost importance to create applications that are safe for not just minors, but for everyone. Once an application helps users interact with each other through in-app chat, user-generated content, reviews, live streaming, interactive gaming, etc., they run the risk of being bullied, blackmailed, harassed, or exposed to other forms of online harm. System designers and software engineers should use this article to learn about key strategies and considerations for creating safer online environments and understanding how to design and build applications that protect users from each other without infringing on individual privacy and confidentiality.
Why It's Important to Build Safe Online Environments
The stats from cyberbullying, online harassment, sextortion, and other online …