College talk puts social media, TikTok, cyberbullying and catfishing under the spotlight

IN RESPONSE to growing concerns about online safety among Irish youth, Carlow College is hosting a public lecture on social media and cyberbullying on Monday 3 March featuring psychology experts who will address the challenges facing both parents and young people in today's digital landscape.

The lecture, taking place in Cobden Hall from 2pm to 3pm, comes at a critical time when recent data shows that over a quarter of Irish children aged eight to 12 have experienced cyberbullying in the past year, with the rate climbing to 40% among secondary school students.

“The internet has become an integral part of our society and young people are growing up in a digital-savvy world. But, there are dark sides to this wonderful resource,” says Dr Leo Carroll, lecturer in psychology at Carlow College. 

“Irish children are receiving mobile phones at an average age of nine years’ old, with 55% of eight to 12-year-olds reporting that they do not tell their parents when they encounter harmful content.” 

The one-hour session will feature three key talks, including Dr Carroll’s insights on cyberbullying, Dr Dean Reid’s exploration of catfishing (when someone creates a fake online profile to trick others, often to scam people on social media and dating apps), and Dr Dawn Higgins’s analysis of how social media is reshaping language and conversation among young people.

The timing of this lecture is particularly relevant, given that 93% of children aged eight to 12 now own smart devices, with 84% maintaining their own social media accounts, according to research from Irish charity CyberSafeKids. 

Perhaps more concerning is that nearly one-third of these young users have unrestricted online access.

“Keeping children and teens safe online requires applying effective real-work parenting skills to cyberspace,” said Dr Carroll. 

“In this lecture, we aim to show young people and parents how to make safe and responsible choices online.” 

The lecture will address the increasingly complex digital landscape that Irish children navigate daily, with platforms like TikTok reaching 47% of Irish internet users, and Snapchat engaging 48% of users aged 13 and above. 

It will also address the gender disparity in cyberbullying, as recent findings indicate girls are more likely to be victimised online than boys, at 43% versus 30%.

Parents, educators and anyone interested in attending this free public lecture can book their place through the Carlow College website.