Facebook fights back as residents embrace site

SOCIAL NETWORKING: Ipswich is a big contributor to Facebook groups and pages. Photo: Rob Williams FE2610WO

IPSWICH sporting clubs, community groups and businesses are embracing the Facebook revolution as controversy surrounds the social networking website.

The Ipswich Junior Rugby League, Ipswich Chamber of Commerce, Ipswich Hospital Foundation, Ipswich State High School and Ipswich Region Community Church are all represented online.

They join local businesses Ella Bache, Hog’s Breath, Nando’s and The Strand Hotel as some of Facebook’s 400 million users.

Ipswich City Councillor Andrew Antoniolli, who was last month outspoken about the Bell Street Facebook Group, said most people used the site “for the right reasons”.

“At the end of the day, Facebook was set up to connect people in a social environment. Ipswich sporting and community groups are well represented and in that respect it’s very good,” Cr Antoniolli said.

“A lot of businesses also use Facebook to keep in contact with their clients and members and reinforce that positive message.

“Unfortunately we’ve had a couple of really, really bad Facebook sites come to light in the past two weeks after the death of Elliott Fletcher and Trinity Bates.

“There will always be a small number of people who want to do the wrong thing, and that happens in life.”

Cr Antoniolli’s comments came as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he would consider creating a new online ombudsman to deal with complaints and combat the increasing threat of cyber crime.

It has been a dramatic week for Facebook bosses, with 20 students from Springwood State High School suspended over a page featuring posts that bullied a member of staff.

A student from Marist College Ashgrove was also suspended over a site promising to “give Daniel Morcombe back”, and police are investigating the posting of pornographic material on memorial sites dedicated to dead Queenslanders Elliott Fletcher and Trinity Bates.

The sites were targeted just hours after being launched and the attacks have created headlines around the world.