Facebook slammed for "knife" game

Mon, 28 Jul 2008

Facebook has come under fire for allowing a game that encourages users to “stab” each other. Members can click on an icon of a knife and a message will then be delivered to the recipient telling them they have been “shanked”.

The game, part of the popular SuperPoke! application, has come in for heavy criticism from family members of those affected by the recent spate of teenage knife crimes.

The use of the word “shank”, a street slang term for a knife, has led to claims that the game is specifically targeted at teenagers.

The Superpoke! application is made by US software company Slide.com and hosted by Facebook. The application encourages users to “do stuff to their friends”, options include kicking and punching as well as more conventional activities such as smiling and sending flowers.

Anti-knife campaigners Urban Concepts says it “completely condemns” the game.

The knife icon now seems to have been removed from the application.