Advice and tips at event to mark Safer Internet Day
A SPECIAL event for young and old took place in the Arklow Bay Hotel last week to mark Safer Internet Day.
‘Together for a Better Internet’ was hosted by Co Wicklow Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC), in partnership with Tusla, Wicklow Comhairle na nÓg, Extern, ISPCC and the Wicklow Child and Family Project. It was attended by parents and professionals, along with 25 children from sixth class at St John’s NS in Arklow.
Fionnuala Curry, Coordinator for the Wicklow CYPSC, opened proceedings by saying that online safety has been a priority area for the group since its first Children and Young People’s Plan [CYPP] in 2012, and that the issue features again in its most recent plan for 2020-2022.
The keynote speaker was Dr Colman Noctor, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist in
St Patrick’s Adolescent Mental Health Services and Assistant Professor at Trinity. His specialist area of interest is the impact of technology on people’s mental lives. Dr Noctor is the author of ‘Cop On’ a parenting book for the technological age and is a regular contributor to both broadcast and print media.
In his presentation, ‘Resilience in a Digital Era,’ Dr Noctor’ explored the pressures experienced by families in an era of technology in contemporary Ireland.
Speaking at the event, Dr Noctor said that technology has ‘changed the landscape of family life in Ireland and we are struggling to keep a pace with these new ways of communicating. It is imperative that we try to develop healthy relationships with technology and mirror these for our children.’
Dr Noctor explored the impact of technology and social media on mental health, emotional wellbeing and resilience, and the ways in which people’s relationship with technology can affect our family, work and personal lives.
The event looked at ways in which people can support themselves and their families to become more resilient and develop better relationships in a digital era.
Paul Hickey, a social worker at Tusla, looked at the issue of cyberbullying, and delivered advice on how to stay safe on social networks and online video games.
This year marked the third annual Safer Internet Day event hosted by the Wicklow CYPSC.