Minister for Children James Reilly has the said the prevalence of mobile devices and the “constant communication” between young people means wider communities must play a central role in the combating of cyberbullying.
Dr Reilly was speaking at DCU during the launch of an online resource for young people affected by bullying, and a new book by bullying expert Dr Mona O’Moore.
He said the Tackle Bullying (tacklebullying.ie) website and Understanding Cyber-Bullying: A Guide for Parents and Teachers would be "a great resource for parents and teachers alike", whom he encouraged to draw on its "practical suggestions" for dealing with cyberbullying.
The website which was developed at the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at DCU is the first forum of its kind. It “encourages teenagers to share their experiences with their peers or offer support to others”.
While the forum is designed to encourage peer-to-peer conversation, all posts will be monitored by professionals. There is also an option to contact moderators directly if an individual is “feeling very unhappy or has a serious issue they’d like to discuss”. The website will also contain information on “staying cyber-safe”.
Dr Reilly said Ms O’Moore’s book “explores the characteristics of cyberbullying, its prevalence and the effects that it can have on you our young people”.
“Of course bullying is not a new phenomenon,” he said. “It has been around a long time. However, the means and instruments of bullying have expanded. The internet and social media are fantastic tools which bring benefits to so many people.
“However, they can also be used in a negative way. The prevalence of mobile devices means that we can be in constant communication and online in any location, which unfortunately means that bullying can occur at any time and place.
“It is also important to stress that tackling all forms of bullying - including cyberbullying - is not just the job of schools or teachers. We all have a role to play in preventing and tackling bullying in our communities.
“We need to change behaviour and ensure that bullying is tackled in all its forms, whether on-line or offline, and that a culture of mutual respect and tolerance is promoted in our schools and our communities.”
Ms O’Moore said there was a “great urgency” to address the growth of cyberbullying among young people.
“The book will complement the online forum by helping schools, parents and teachers to better identify, prevent and deal more effectively with the mean, downgrading and cowardly behaviour that constitutes cyberbullying so that few children will suffer the pain of victimisation,” she said.
