Go back to golden rules of parenting, follow your kids online: TD's advice to parents

A TD is telling parents to disregard their children's privacy and befriend them on their social media sites.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor said looking at their children's online activity was necessary to protect children and teenagers from cyberbullying.

The Fine Gael TD, who is a former school principal, said parents should brush aside any fears they might have of invading their children's privacy.

"They feel it's a private entity that the child owns, but they don't realise that everyone else knows what's going on on (their child's) facebook page," she said.

"I'm asking parents to go back to the golden rules of parenting and I'm afraid that means they have to look at what their children are doing on their social network sites."