Colman Noctor: How parents can help screen out extremist content online

"These are not abstract political debates; they are propaganda attempts to radicalise young minds, which can leave them feeling worried, guilty, angry, or withdrawn. This noise is now part of their psychological landscape."

A new survey from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) reveals. More than 600 young people across Ireland were asked about extremist views, discrimination, and traditional gender expectations. The figures are stark, but not unexpected for those of us who work with adolescents.

EVERY generation of parents has its own worries. In the past, the fretting was over video nasties, messy bedrooms, and too much television. Today, parents fear that their teenagers are being exposed to extreme views online; that society’s growing polarisation is quietly entering teenage bedrooms through smartphones.

These concerns are justified, a new survey from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) reveals. More than 600 young people across Ireland were asked about extremist views, discrimination, and traditional gender expectations. The figures are stark, but not unexpected for those of us who work with adolescents. Some 60% of young people said they encounter extremist views online. That’s 10 times the number who hear such views in person, suggesting that the online world does not always reflect real life. However, 25% said their friends hold views they would consider extreme, and 70% believe discrimination — racism, sexism, and xenophobia — is a significant issue in Ireland today.