Childline has seen a 20% increase in calls to the service on Christmas Day, compared to last year.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to children (ISPCC) has called on the Government to consider forcing internet providers to block explicit material.

Childline volunteers have said some of 1,200 contacts received by the service on Christmas Day involved children expressing suicidal thoughts and speaking about the issues present in some recent high-profile teenage suicides.

Childline received more than 1,200, texts and messages from children and young people to its service yesterday.

Children’s groups and organisations for parents have seen a rise in numbers calling with concerns about cyberbullying.

Parents are growing more and more worried that children’s smartphones are dramatically increasing exposure to cyberbullying and pornography.

Images of celebrities before and after being airbrushed, slimmed, and enhanced are helping parents talk about body image to their children.

ALMOST one child a minute called, texted or emailed Childline for support on Christmas Day.

Almost one child a minute called, texted or emailed Childline for support on Christmas Day.

Childline recieved almost 1,400 calls and texts from Children around Ireland yesterday.

THE country’s main helpline for children was swamped with callers over the holiday period with over 1,000 children contacting the service on Christmas Day.

Childline received 1,005 calls, texts and emails from children and young people on Christmas Day yesterday, an 11% increase on last year.

THERE has been a staggering 500% increase in the number of teenagers engaging in live text conversations with the ISPCC’s Childline Online service, new figures show.

THE number of calls answered by the Childline service reached record levels last year, with almost one in seven calls related to abuse and violence.