A worrying 28% of children have experienced bullying online in Ireland, new research has shown.
The research coincides with Safer Internet Day.
A survey carried out by internet safety charity CyberSafeKids.
The most common experience was being left out of chat groups on social media.
This accounted for 16% of respondents, while 14% said that they had received hurtful messages.
According to the study, 25% of children have reported being upset or scared by something online.
CyberSafeKids’ CEO Alex Cooney described the findings as very worrying.
“The only way we can protect and empower our children is if we act together as a community, strengthening our safeguards through regulation and legislation and educating our children and caregivers about how to be safe and smart online,” she said.
“On Safer Internet Day 2022 we are calling on the Minister for Education to ensure that every child benefits from better online safety and digital literacy training,” Ms Cooney added.
The Department of Education said that there are several supports available to schools to assist in the development of policies and practices on the safe use of the internet.
