Hanafin in internet safety plea to parents
Parents must regularly warn their children not to talk to strangers on the internet, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said today.
An Education Department survey found that one in 10 Irish children were physically threatened or verbally abused by people they met while surfing the web.
The National Centre for Technology in Education study of 848 nine- to 16-year-olds found 33% had a computer in their bedrooms.
Reacting to the survey, Miss Hanafin said: “It is very positive that nearly every child in the country now uses computers and they’re obviously very comfortable with the technology which can help them in relation to their education.
“It is very concerning as well that we find young people who are meeting others on the internet only to find that they are not children but are actually adults.”
The minister said it was of great concern to her that one in 10 Irish children surveyed experienced physical threats and abuse.
She added: “It is also worrying that parents don’t seem to know what children are doing on the internet.
“There is a clear message there for children and their parents. Just as you would be safe on the road you must also be safe on the information super highway.
“It’s up to children to be careful of the sites they are accessing, particularly boys who are going onto ’hate’ sites or pornographic sites, are of great concern.”
Miss Hanafin said the internet can be a very positive asset but it must not be used in a negative way.
She advised parents not to allow their children to use computers in their bedrooms.
“Don’t be afraid of the technology. Don’t be afraid of the internet,” she advised parents.
“But in the same way as you protect your child by giving them advice on not talking to strangers, not getting into cars with people, not meeting people they don’t know, the very same rules apply to the internet.”
