A very good question. This is actually something which we’ve already been doing a lot of work on. See http://www.timdavies.org.uk/2008/12/01/safe-and-effective-social-network-site-applications/ for a bit more background.

Neontribe who will be developing the app have been involved in the development of the ethical standards and safety criteria that will influence the application development.

In a nut-shell everything will:

(a) Be fully risk assessed to ensure it doesn’t put young people at risk;

(b) Abide by strict ethical criteria covering data sharing and informed consent from young people;

and

(c) Model good practice, and seek to encourage critical literacy building with young people – so that the application is not only safe itself, but contributes to creating a safer SNS space;

–

For a quicker summary of the SNS Safety work I’ve been doing this three-page paper may be handy http://isp.substance.coop/files/Summary_Discussion_Doc-Safe_and_Effective_Social_Network_Site_Applications_for_Young_People.pdf