Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy has welcomed new resources to help support parents who wish to develop voluntary codes regarding smartphone use among primary school children.
Senator Murphy was speaking following confirmation from his party colleague and Minister for Education Norma Foley, that new guidelines designed to help support parents amid concerns regarding primary school children’s potential exposure to cyberbullying and other online harms, will be issued to all primary schools in the coming weeks.
The Fianna Fáil Senator said, “There are undoubtedly some positives to smartphones and social media but anyone who spends time on certain social media platforms knows how toxic they can be.
“More and more reports are being published on the damage being done to children and teenagers by certain types of mobile phone use, social media use and internet content. Children and teenagers can be exposed to content that is damaging their mental health and often parents can be left feeling powerless.
“My colleagues and I in Fianna Fáil are of the view that Ireland can be, and must be, a world leader in ensuring that children and young people are not targeted and are not harmed by their interactions with the digital world.
“I was delighted to hear Minister Foley say that as part of a wider package of supports for parents, she will provide funding to Webwise, the Irish internet safety organisation, to deliver new web safety lectures for parents”.
