Facebook will soon be launching a "panic button" application on its social networking site, which is aimed at children and teenagers. The button will report abuse to Child Exploitation as well as Online Protection Centre (Ceop) and Facebook. The homepage will exhibit the application, which says that "they are in control online".

A lot of negotiation took place between Ceop and Facebook, before the button was launched, though; the idea was resisted by the Facebook, in the beginning. The first network to add the button with MySpace was Bebo, but Facebook opposed the change, mentioning that its own reporting systems were enough.

Ceop's call for a panic button on every Facebook page was backed by Forty-four police chiefs in England, Wales and Scotland, who also wrote a letter to support the same.

Jim Gamble, Ceop's Chief Executive, said, "Our dialogue with Facebook about adopting the ClickCeop button is well documented - today however is a good day for child protection”.

The new app would incorporate reporting into both Facebook and Ceop's systems, as was revealed by Sophy Silver, Facebook's head of communications in the UK.

A new Facebook/Ceop page will also be set up, which will be of use to teenagers, like celebrities, music and exams.