Cyber bullying to become criminal offence under new plan

Cyber bullying could become a criminal offence, with the publication of a government report proposing new laws on the misuse of social media.

The report is expected to be published next week and will propose that all schools should introduce disciplinary codes for the use of sites like Twitter and Facebook.

It comes after a number of teenage suicides were linked to cyber bullying.

According to the Irish Times, the recommendations are contained in a report by the special reporter on child protection Dr. Geoffrey Shannon.

Ian Power of youth website Spunout.ie says the move is a good step forward.

"So basically once they're alerted to something that's against the law, they're compelled to take that down - otherwise they would face proceedings themselves," he explained.