Protecting children online is now more difficult than ever due to the rise in popularity of photo-sharing apps, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

Smartphones are the go-to device for children accessing the internet - and 9 to 16 year olds mostly use them at home.

There has been renewed calls for the ban of website ask.fm - after the suicide of an English schoolgirl is being blamed on the site.

The extent of cyberbullying is felt more by Irish children than others in Europe, with almost one in four here having been bullied either online or offline in the past year.

A hard-hitting student video showing the dangers of cyber-bullying is to become part a national programme that aims to keep kids safe online.