Prompt reports key to stoping cyberbullies

Young people need to be made aware of the legal consequences of cyberbullying, as well as overcoming a culture of not reporting such incidents to gardaí, according to one of the country’s leading educational psychologists.

Research shows that one in four girls and one in six boys are involved in cyberbullying, either as bullies, victims, or both.

Text messaging is the most common form of cyber-bullying used by girls, while boys are most likely to use camera and video clips.

Mona O’Moore said that in order to counter the growing problem of cyber-bullying, young users of digital media must be given greater awareness, social competence, and strategies, as well as increased responsibility.

Speaking at a ‘Screen-agers’ conference on the use of digital and social media in youth work, organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland, Prof O’Moore said there was a need to promote a culture of disclosure and to empower young people to report incidents of bullying.

In particular, she stressed that young people should feel able to take action when they witness their peers being cyberbullied.

Prof O’Moore, who is the head of the Anti-Bullying Centre at TCD, said therecent deaths of Erin Gallagher, 13, in Co Donegal and Ciara Pugsley, 15, in Co Leitrim, as well as the death of Cork schoolgirl Leanne Wolfe, 18, in 2007, had driven home just how damaging cyberbullying can be.

Youth organisations intent on preventing cyberbullying should develop anti-bullying policies, as well as empowering young people to understand the causes and the effects of such bullying, said Prof O’Moore.

She urged youth leaders to collaborate with teachers and parents in tackling the problem, as well as creating a culture of respect and tolerance.

Cyberbullying can differ from traditional bullying in that it is indirect, often anonymous, and has the potential to reach large audiences for an indefinite period, despite the fact that the perpetrator may only have carried out a single act, she said

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, who opened the conference, said that digital media etiquette should be part of everyone’s education, whether taught in a formal setting or not. Mr Rabbitte described cyberbullying as “insidious” and “very damaging”.