Mr. Ben Holmes:

I think consistent peer consultation is essential in order for organisations and anyone to stay up to date on cyberbullying and information to do with the online space. Obviously, Webwise has a great peer-to-peer programme, which is why I am here. It is intimidating for teachers. As students, we do not necessarily like acting like we know more than teachers or trying to educate them. This even applies to our parents or any other adults in our lives. I do not think someone needs to be aware of the Internet and these issues to teach students about them.

By the time we reach first year, we will most likely have phones. I see children in primary school getting phones earlier and earlier. I got mine when I entered first year. When they come in, they will probably already have a very comprehensive idea of the online space and things. Where the education needs to happen is around what rights they have online and in school. If I went back to third or fourth year, I would have no idea what I would be able to do if I was being cyberbullied, whether I could take it to my principal or teacher and if they would be able to deal with it because technically, it is outside the school. Sex education needs to be updated because students do not know these things and have to go online. The environment in Ireland is still very stigmatised so I am not going to go to my teachers or parents but I will go online and look for that information. That is where students ultimately end up in many dangerous situations and that is where the threat lies. They feel they need to go online to learn things and connect with people. It is about that fear of missing out and wanting to know stuff. Teachers could provide education to meet this curiosity.