Kate
and Gerry McCann
have welcomed the initiative by charity
Missing People, which will mean Facebook
users can view details of missing
youngsters on their own page.
In a
statement the couple said: "We strongly
support and encourage this new
initiative to use Facebook to increase
awareness of missing children.
"Using
the power of social media in this way
will undoubtedly capture the attention
-- and hopefully the help -- of a
younger population who are a hugely
valuable and resourceful group.
"We would urge the millions of Facebook users around the world to keep looking and to do what they can to help bring these children home.
"This
initiative by Missing People, British Telecom
and all those supporting them, is
another highly commendable and positive
step in protecting and helping
children."
Missing People has set up an application for Facebook users to download, which will mean information on current appeals will be displayed on their homepage.
The
charity is also joining Bebo's 'Be
Cause', an internet site which gives
information for young people about
charities and campaign groups, to
publicise its 24-hour Runaway Helpline.
It hopes to access millions of internet users in its quest to find thousands of youngsters.
- Margaret Davis in London
