‘I pledge to be wise online’

CHILDREN in a city parish have taken a pledge with their Confirmation to use ‘the internet wisely’.

The pupils made the usual pledge to not drink alcohol, but also promised to not take drugs and to be cautious and safe when using smartphones, iPads and social media.

Parish priest Fr Eoin Thynne asked the children to ‘promise to use your electronic devices, the internet and social media wisely and cautiously’.

CHILDREN in a north Dublin parish were asked to take a pledge at their Confirmation promising to use smartphones and social media ‘wisely and cautiously’.

The children made the usual pledge to not drink alcohol, but along with the traditional vow, they also promised to not take drugs and to be cautious and safe when using smartphones, iPads and social media.

The initiative has been introduced this year in the parish of Mulhuddart in Dublin, and has been welcomed by parents and children at St Luke’s national school, Ladyswell national school, and Catholic students attending the local Educate Together school.

The children were asked by parish priest Fr Eoin Thynne to promise to avoid alcohol and cigarettes, and not to ‘use or handle dangerous drugs’.

They were then asked as part of the pledge to promise to be considerate when using social media and to use it with guidance from their parents.

As part of their Confirmation pledge, Fr Thynne said to the children: ‘God has blessed us with many wonderful inventions including mobile phones, tablet/iPads, computers, the internet and social media.

‘When used properly these can be a great blessing, but sometimes they can be harmful to ourselves and to others.

‘Do you promise to use your electronic devices, the internet and social media wisely and cautiously, with guidance from your parents/ guardian, and always be considerate of others?’

To this, the children responded ‘I do.’

The new digital media pledge was an initiative within the parish and did not come from the local diocese. It is the first year the children in the parish made the digital pledge and it was introduced as a way of raising awareness among the youngsters about safety when using the internet.

Before the children’s Confirmation on May 15, parents received a letter from the church parish office advising them of the new digital media pledge as part of the ceremony.

The letter read: ‘As part of this ceremony, the candidates for Confirmation will be asked to make promises regarding the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

‘In addition, this year, we have added a promise regarding the use of social media.

‘A copy of these promises are on the reverse of this letter so that you can look at them in advance of the ceremony and discuss them with your daughter or son.’

The new pledge was supported by parents and was introduced because it was believed that children’s safety online is an issue that needs to be addressed.

The World Meeting of Families 2018 spokeswoman Brenda Drumm welcomed the new digital pledge as part of Confirmation.

Ms Drumm, speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, said: ‘I think it is a great idea. It is a brilliant way to raise the issue of smartphone and other devices and safety for children when using social media.

‘Any initiatives like this within parishes are to be welcomed.’

She continued: ‘Smartphones and social media are an important issue and anything that makes young people and parents actively think about their usage is a good thing.

‘It is a great idea to add the pledge of using the internet wisely as part of the Confirmation ceremony along with the pledge to not drink alcohol and other promises.’

It comes after the Digital Devices In Schools Bill passed its first hurdle in the Seanad last week. It is expected to proceed to Committee stage in the coming days.

The Bill aims to crack down on the use of smartphones in schools, requiring primary school pupils to hand the devices in for safekeeping for the duration of the school day, and for secondary school pupils to keep them switched off and out of sight.

During the Seanad debate, the work of the Irish Daily Mail and our Protect Our Kids Online campaign was acknowledged as helping to initiate an important discussion about the ‘overuse of digital devices’.

‘I think it is a great idea’

WHEN this newspaper started warning about the dangers relating to smartphones 18 months ago, there was little or no awareness of the issue. Thankfully, people are much more clued in now on the problems involved. Only yesterday, we reported on a study that revealed how 86% of parents are concerned that their children’s reliance on mobile devices is having a negative effect on their levels of physical activity.

Now it emerges that some youngsters are to take a Confirmation pledge in which they will commit to using social media and the internet ‘wisely and cautiously’. This is, of course, a positive development.

But it illustrates how morally wrong it is of our political leaders to wash their hands of the matter. We elect governments to act on our behalf – and this is a case where they need to do so without further delay.