Gardaí deliver important message about online activity to Mayo students

AN Garda Síochána in Mayo have delivered an important message to secondary school students - what you put online becomes part of your story even after you've long forgotten it.

Community Garda John Monaghan, of Claremorris Garda Station, has delivered multiple talks on Respectful Online Communication to all first year students at Ballinrobe Community School, St. Colman's College, Claremorris, Mount St. Michael's, Claremorris, and St. Louis Community School in Kiltimagh.

The pros and cons of social media and the detrimental effects that bullying/cyberbullying can have on a victim were discussed. Garda Monaghan also discussed what you should do if you become a victim of cyberbullying.

Also discussed was legislation (Coco's Law) and the negative impacts cyberbulling can have on the victim, as well as future impacts it can have on perpetrators of cyberbullying.

Legislation information and support organisations' information packs were distributed to students to have for reference purposes into the future.

The underlying message of the talks was that what you put online becomes part of your story even after you've long forgotten it - your digital footprint never forgets or disappears.