Facebook, the social networking Web site, announces that it will launch a "panic button" application. The button is meant for children and teenagers. With it, users can report abuse to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) and Facebook. The application also displays a message on its homepage that says "they are in control online".

Ceop, the UK law enforcement agency tasked with capturing online sex offenders, previously called for the installation of a panic button on social networking Web sites. In spite of the adoption of such measures by Bebo, and then Myspace, Facebook resisted the proposal saying that it has insufficient reporting systems.

Facebook faced increased pressure to add the button due to the case of Ashleigh Hall. The 17-year-old girl was raped and murdered by a 33-year old convicted sex offender who posed as a teenage boy on Facebook.

"Our dialogue with Facebook about adopting the ClickCeop button is well documented - today however is a good day for child protection, said Jim Gamble, Ceop chief executive, in a statement.

"By adding this application, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCeop button which should provide reassurance to every parent with teenagers on the site."

A new Facebook/Ceop page is being set up in conjunction with the online reporting application. The page will have content pertaining to celebrities, music and exams, which will then be linked to questions about online safety.