Kids’ online usage rarely checked

Only half of parents check on a weekly basis what their child is doing on the internet, despite widespread concerns that their children are involved in cyber-bullying.

Almost a third of parents said they rarely or never checked their child’s online activity, and in homes where checks are regularly carried out, mothers are more likely to do so than fathers.

A survey conducted for the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals found one in five parents believed their child had been the victim of cyber-bullying, while one in eight believed their child had bullied someone else online.

Roughly one in 10 parents did not know either way

Answers were varied on the question of who should deal with cyber-bullying, with most people believing responsibility should be shared between schools, parents and victims.

Just one in ten said the owners of the online social networks themselves should carry most responsibility and fewer again said the gardaí should take the lead role.

Clive Byrne, NAPD director, said the survey was commissioned with a view to devising better ways for schools, parents and society at large to tackle cyber-bullying.

“We must empower our children to use the new tools of the information age, while at the same time educate them about the terrible harm they can cause if these tools are abused,” he said.

The NAPD has also called on social networking companies to play a greater role in combating cyber-bullying by appointing dedicated school liaison officers to deal promptly with requests to take down abusive posts.