Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 February 2014
40. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she will take to help young persons who may be at risk from irresponsible and reckless forms of social media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6652/14]
View answerI share the Deputy's concerns and recognise that the scale of the challenge, particularly as the number of social media outlets, and platforms to use them, is ever increasing. Research on the problem shows there are no simple answers and there is no magic solution to tackling this complex social issue.
It is important that a cross-departmental approach is taken to tackling this issue. In 2013 the Minister for Education and Science launched the Action Plan on Bullying. Since the Action Plan was launched, two successful awareness raising initiatives have been rolled out. I understand that Internet Safety Day will be held again on 11th February of this year. As part of this, the information service for young people, SpunOut, is planning a major focus on internet safety issues through its website and social media channels which reach thousands of young people every day.
The Office for Internet Safety forms part of the Department of Justice and Equality and has a key role in ensuring that steps are taken to keep the internet as safe as possible. It provides guidance for parents and organisations and a mechanism for reporting illegal content.
With regard to the Internet generally, it is important to remember that it has many positive aspects and that it is important parents proactively engage with their children to help them to maximise their enjoyment of the Internet in the safest possible manner. This includes parents explaining to their children the potential dangers that exist and encouraging them to bring up any difficulties or problems with other users that they may be interacting with on the Internet. It is also important that parents are aware of what their children are doing on-line and are familiar with the systems their children are using.
Many of the technologies that children use today have resources that can be used to help protect children from inappropriate or obscene content. Filtering, Blocking and Parental Control Systems are among some of the options available. However, research relating to Ireland showed only just over a quarter of parents (28%) block or filter websites and just under a quarter (24%) track the websites visited by their children. I believe these figures need to be improved by the continued highlighting of these dangers to parents and young people.
