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

Social media have grown rapidly in a short number of years. Recent reports suggest that the number of text messages being sent in Ireland is on the decline, with social media becoming the leading mode of electronic communication. Social media changes rapidly, with new forms of technology and new smartphone apps emerging every year. This makes our jobs as legislators difficult. How do we, or should we, legislate for an area that is so new and so rapidly changing? The sites used by the general public are displayed in the report, but I imagine that even since the report was drafted barely six months ago these figures have become dated. While Facebook and Twitter are still leaders in the field of social media, new apps such as Snapchat have grown in prevalence since the report was published, and therefore any discussion we have on such a rapidly changing field must be seen in this context. Social media have broken out of what was traditionally viewed as a young person's world. There are now more people than ever in their 50s, 60s and above using social media as a means of communication, and not just on Facebook; people use Instagram to share photos and Tumblr to share topics of interest.

Social media in Ireland have found a distinct advantage in this age of mass emigration. They have allowed families to stay in contact with each other from different parts of the globe, practically for free. There was a time when emigrants in the United States or Australia would have to budget part of their weekly income to afford a phone call home to Ireland. Thanks to social media and to Skype, families in Ireland can see what is happening in the lives of loved ones around the world. This, of course, does not eliminate the suffering that families go through when a loved one is forced to emigrate in search of gainful employment, but it does make the world that little bit smaller.

Social media have played an important role in spreading new ideas and opinions, especially in countries where freedom is not taken for granted. In the Arab spring of 2011, social media were used as a tool by protestors to bypass government-controlled media and spread the message of protest to others. Social media afforded mass communication that was previously unattainable due to government repression. Social media have also enabled stories to emerge in real time from major events and tragedies throughout the world, and the growth of what has become known as citizen media has developed from this.

However, social media can be and has been used for negative purposes. It is our role as legislators not to suffocate social media but instead to work with the industry in an attempt to make social media as user-friendly and safe as possible. Unfortunately, bullying has always existed, including in Irish schools. With the advent of social media, bullies use them as a platform to harass and inflict suffering on their victims. In compiling this report we found that 17% of 12 to 18 year old students had suffered cyberbullying at least once. It is clear that guidelines should be given to principals on cyberbullying so they have clear protocols to follow. Of course cyberbullying can happen to adults also. It can occur in the workplace. This falls under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

A number of very young people from my area have died by suicide. In some of these cases there was evidence that they were victims of cyberbullying or cyber-abuse prior to their deaths. I would love to think our report and the actions to follow would ensure that I would never again have to share the desperate anguish and pain of parents, families, friends, neighbours and communities mourning the premature death of a young person following sustained periods of cyberbullying, yet I know this will not be the case. We can only do so much.

Cyberbullying is about a lack of respect and consideration. It is as difficult to address as verbal or physical bullying in the schoolyard or on the way to and from school. The difference is that with cyberbullying the bullies follow their victims into their homes and, indeed, into their bedrooms.

One good aspect of the committee's work was that we found a willingness on the part of the larger social media companies to help eliminate cyberbullying and to respond quickly and effectively to complaints. Education of children, parents, teachers and social media companies can and should minimise, if not eliminate, sustained cyberbullying if everyone works together.

Young people need to be educated in the proper use of social media, as this report points out. This should include digital skills, how to use the Internet safely without fear of private information being used against one's will and intention, how to interact with other users of social media in a respectful manner and the harm that cyberbullying can inflict on others. This approach needs to be carried out in conjunction with parents and social media companies. Welcome initiatives have been taken to promote awareness among young people about cyberbullying. The Watch Your Space campaign was a step in the right direction. However, the Government must keep on top of this issue because every year there will be a new set of teenagers who will need to be educated on a continuous basis about the dangers of cyberbullying.

The reports states that the Office for Internet Safety does not adequately deal with cyberbullying or with the traceability of tweets and other social media. It recommends that a single body be given responsibility for co-ordinating the regulation of social media content. The funding and organisational models for this agency should be agreed with social media companies. This would result in the industry taking proactive and positive steps to tackle the problems caused by cyberbullying.

It is important that we recognise cyberbullying for what it is - an extension of real-life hatred and prejudices in a digital form. Racist or sexist abuse that is spouted on the Internet is a reflection of racist or sexist attitudes in society. While it is important to tackle these issues online, we cannot ignore the fact that we must battle these prejudices in real life. Social media have allowed people to communicate in an entirely new way. They have broken down barriers that once existed and allowed people who had little ability to express themselves the option of doing so. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Social media is a powerful tool but we must work in any way we can to ensure that no one is harmed through its use.

I hope our report and the action it proposes will be a first step on the road to minimising cyberbullying and promoting respect across all platforms. In a worldwide communications environment, we must accelerate steps to ensure a uniform European and worldwide response to protect privacy, ensure open access and prevent cyberbullying. This will not be an easy task and it will take time. It will also take a different way of thinking and vigilance to ensure that autocratic states do not use this as a reason to inhibit access to views, opinions, facts and news anywhere. However, this work must be done if we are to make a difference.

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