by Jess Banham

A new social networking site for students billed as an alternative to Facebook will be launched at a dance party in Margate tonight.

The website - called This Is Status - is aimed at keeping pupils from 11 to 16 safer on the internet.

Kent Police Chief Inspector Lee Russell, who is part of the new initiative, said: “Only young people can access it through a school email address and that is then verified.

"The other point is that it is monitored 24/7 by real people so any inappropriate comment will be taken down within minutes.”

Up to 500 young people are expected at tonight’s launch event at the Winter Gardens, Margate.

A number of celebrities and up-and-coming artists will also attend including Celebrity Big Brother contestant Lucien Laviscount and singer Femii Thai.

Many of the partner organisations involved in the project, such as the charity CXK (formerly Connexions Kent and Medway) and the Kent People's Trust, will also be on hand to offer students advice on anything that might be bothering them.

Ch Insp Lee Russell continued: “It could be a whole range of things. It could be advice on how to stay healthy, it could be advice if they’re being bullied or advice on education and careers.”

A number of these events will take place throughout the year to sit side-by-side with the website. It is hoped young people will go online afterwards to share their experiences.

Students will also be able to access advice on a number of topics from bullying to the dangers of drinking through the website.

Ch Insp Lee Russell concluded: “This will never be like one those large social networking sites but it’s an alternative there for the kids to try and parents will know that it’s safe.

"We’re operating this from an 11-year-old’s perspective and other networking sites are saying themselves that you shouldn’t be on here if you’re under 13.”

The event at the Winter Gardens, Margate will run from 7pm until 10.30pm.