New research shows that 14% of primary school children and 10% of post-primary school children have been cyberbullied.
The research was released today by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at Dublin City University.
The figures have been highlighted ahead of Safer Internet Day (7th February, 2017) and will form part of an in-depth review to be published later this year. The full report will comprise an analysis of all studies on cyberbullying in Ireland from 1997 to the present time.
The Centre is advising parents to familiarise themselves with the apps and social media spaces used by their children as this will help parents prevent and intervene on cyberbullying – whether their child is being bullied or is the bully themselves.
It has also produced a short video in which school children tell parents how to help them stay safe from cyberbullying. The video can be seen here.
Dr James O’Higgins Norman, director of the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at DCU said.
"It is alarming to think that more than 1 in 10 children have been cyberbullied. New apps and social media platforms are coming on to the market all the time and being targeted at children as young as 9 years of age.
"There is a pressing need to create protections around children from cyberbullying. For parents at a loss on how to intervene or protect their child, we would recommend they to familiarise themselves with the social media channels their children are using first and then to talk to their children about their usage."
