Ms Cliona Curley:

There are two issues here: the role of parents and whether they feel equipped to take on this issue and the role of teachers. I talk to parents all the time, but as Ms Cooney said, the parents who come to our talks are not necessarily the parents we most needs to reach. We find there is a lack of confidence. Parents are really struggling and do not know where to start. It is so tempting just to wish the Internet away and to wish one did not have this problem in parenting because it is a huge challenge. The reality is that they must deal with it, and they must be equipped to do so. Parents need more support and they need to have confidence. They do not have to be technical experts but they must have the confidence to take on their primary role of safeguarding their children and empowering them to use technology in a healthy way. They must be comfortable enough to have the conversations, set the rules and monitor what their children are doing.