Mayo TD urges parents to follow digital safety advice as Santa brings more screens
SANTA has arrived, and with that so have the screens.
Mayo TD Keira Keogh is reminding parents that it isn’t just mobile phones that pose a risk, but any device that can connect to the internet, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, tablets, laptops and smart watches.
“I know children up and down the country were thrilled to receive new devices on Christmas morning,” Deputy Keogh said. “Technology can be a positive force when used well, helping young people to stay connected with friends and family, to play, to create, and to learn.”
However, Deputy Keogh is urging parents and guardians to always follow digital safety advice, with one of the most important rules being no screens in private places - particularly bedrooms - and especially not late at night.
Deputy Keogh, chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality, said: “I’m encouraging parents to make sure they are fully aware of the risks posed to their children, who are growing up in a rapidly evolving digital world. Fine Gael’s recent Online Safety Report, which collates the results of a survey that received over 2,200 responses from parents and guardians, clearly shows the challenges facing families in Ireland today. While parents want to keep their children safe online, too many do not feel properly equipped to do so.
“I would point parents towards trusted resources such as Webwise and CyberSafeKids, which provide up-to-date information, advice and practical resources for schools, families and young people on online safety.
“One of the main recommendations for parents is to normalise conversations with children about their online activity and to keep those conversations judgement-free. When a child is given a device, they should feel safe asking questions or sharing concerns without fear of getting into trouble.
“With an abundance of features and apps, from social media to gaming, it is easy for these devices to become addictive for children, leading to difficulties with concentration and issues such as sleep deprivation. Balance is crucial, and it’s important that parents put clear rules and guidance in place around screen time.”
She continued: “Another key recommendation is the use of parental controls. Our survey found that 79% of parents already use some form of parental controls on their children’s devices. These controls allow parents to restrict content, limit internet access and manage screen time through password-protected settings.
“Our report also found that YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram are the most popular platforms among young people. All of these are centred around sharing photos and videos, and parents should be aware of the risks associated with that. It may be necessary to restrict where children can upload photos and videos until they are old enough to fully understand why personal information should never be shared publicly.
“Parents have been clear that they want online safety education embedded across the school curriculum, not treated as an optional add-on. There is strong demand for earlier and stronger online safety education in schools, alongside digital literacy programmes for parents and children. We are committed to addressing that demand and to holding social media companies accountable when they fail to put adequate protections in place for children.
“While there have been some welcome announcements from Government and at European level in recent weeks around future age-verification measures, many children in Ireland are at risk right now.”
Not wanting to be a Grinch this Christmas, Deputy Keogh concluded: “The digital world is our children’s world and at Christmas they should be able to enjoy the excitement of their new devices. We must empower young people to enjoy the benefits of being online; the fun, the creativity and the connection while giving them the tools to understand the risks and responsibilities that come with it. The festive season is a natural moment for parents to start those conversations.”