Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications

Social Media: Discussion (Resumed) with National Anti-Bullying Coalition

9:55 am

Photo of Michael ColreavyMichael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I see a big risk in what we are trying to do. If we go too far in the direction of legislation, we would make social media worthless. If we go too far towards ensuring a user ID is always made available, we will inhibit people giving their opinions on social media. The figures are stark and show 55% of secondary school students have been bullied. I take it not all of this is cyberbullying. The problem is that children can walk from the schoolyard but they cannot walk from social media because it is in their pocket all the time.

I am not aware of any international examples of countries which have solved this problem. I would love if somebody could point to a jurisdiction which may not have solved it but is on the way to doing so, where international aspects may need to click into place but the jurisdiction is on the road towards solving the problem in a way that, without inhibiting people's liberty and freedom, protects children and vulnerable adults.

They are not as well equipped to deal with cyberbullying as others may be. Are there any such international examples concerning some nations that may be further on than others in addressing this issue?

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