Facebook has decided enough is enough.

After listening to thousands of complaints by women users related to harassment, molestation in India, Facebook has decided to take matters heads-on.

They have launched two special features, which have designed to safeguard women users’ interests and to protect them against unethical usage of their images, online.

Facebook was helped by Youth Ki Awaaz in formulating the design and concepts of this women safety tools, which have been launched especially for Indian women users.

Feature 1: Photo Guard For Profile Images

A new feature called ‘Design Grid’ has been launched by Facebook, which will help help women to protect their identities. The process is simple: Once photo-guard is activated on the cover image, then no one can copy, share or send that image to others via Facebook message or post.

Besides, Facebook users on Android phones won’t be able to take a screenshot of that guarded image as well. This has been designed after Facebook and Youth Ki Awaaz found that several women deliberately choose not to post their original picture, because of fear of misuse.

A blue border and shield would accompany every such guarded photo, whose aim would be to present a visual cue, as per Facebook product manager Aarati Soman.

Feature 2: Design Grid for Pictures

The second feature is a design grid, which can be applied on any Facebook phot. These design grids have been inspired from traditional Indian designs and art forms. As per Facebook’s research, if an image has a design grid superimposed, then chances of being copied is reduced by 75%.

Both of these features would be available to Indian women users, in 30 languages. Effective June 27th, every Facebook user from India would be able to use these features.

Anshul Tewari, founder and editor in chief of Youth Ki Awaaz said, Gender-based violence and sexual harassment is a big problem in India,” he said, due in large part to “an extremely patriarchal way of thinking.”

Receiving unsolicited online messages from unknown males, receiving friend’s request from unknown men, insults, harassment, fake profiles of women to take revenge etc are some of the most common form of online molestation.

Do you think Facebook’s recent initiatives to safeguard womens on Facebook will work? Do let us know by commenting right here.

Image Source

Cover Image: sixtyandme.com