Online etiquette needed to tackle cyber bullying – Corcoran Kennedy

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has said that an established online etiquette is necessary to put an end to online bullying and intimidation.

“Not too many people would walk up to you and call you a fascist or a parasite to your face and if they did it would generally be looked upon extremely negatively. However it is somehow acceptable for someone use these taunts online.

“I believe that we need to put in place rules around civility and adults must set a good example for younger people communicating online. Social media is a relatively new phenomenon. We are all learning together but adults who demean and bully other adults, be they politicians, public personalities or anybody else, should be held accountable for their actions. How can we expect young people to behave properly if adults do not lead the way?

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“About 15 years ago society went through a major shift when mobile phones became the norm. People were answering their phones in restaurants, in meetings, when they were out with friends. Nowadays most people excuse themselves to take a call, put their phone on silent and adapt their behaviour for others around them. We need to develop a similar type of etiquette for social media.

“It is unacceptable that abusive behaviour can be hidden behind a keyboard, that people can say things online, that they would never dream of repeating out loud. Nobody should have to deal with the abuse and bullying that many people are subjected to online. We know the dangers that this can pose to vulnerable people and the regulations simply do not provide adequate protection.

“It is time for society to come together and to decide how much of this behaviour we are willing to tolerate. If there is an agreed etiquette that the majority of people abide by and if adults set a good example, it will make it much easier to cut out the overtly abusive and intimidating behaviour that has become all too common.”