Gerard P. Craughwell Urges Cyber Awareness from Fourth Class

Gerard P. Craughwell spoke about children's access to social media and urged a cyber awareness campaign in national schools starting from fourth class. He expressed strong reservations about social media, described it as a 'cesspit', cited cyber bullying and child suicides, and asked the acting leader to arrange a debate with the Minister for Education on the issue.

Proposal for schools

He proposed a cyber awareness campaign from fourth class in national schools, which would include internet hygiene and guidance on the use of the internet for research. He said schools should not be afraid to use available online resources for educational purposes.

Criticism of social media

He expressed huge reservations about social media, calling much of it a 'cesspit' and saying he had "no time whatsoever for the nonsense that goes on there." He warned of attacks on decent people who work in the establishment and on other public figures and noted he was "no longer a member of the ex-paternity."

Harsh real-world examples

Drawing on his experience in the teachers' union, he recalled that two 11-year-olds took their own lives as a result of cyber bullying and "the like," using the cases to underline the human cost of online harm and the urgency of action.

Call for parliamentary debate

He asked the acting leader to organise for the Minister for Education to be brought in for a debate on the impact of the cyber world on young children as they pass through the education system.