Council to share ‘what makes this conversation different coming from Donegal’
The students' research revealed that seven out of 10 children aged 10 and 15 have been exposed to harmful content
Carndonagh Community School students were applauded by Donegal County Council after calling for a balanced approach to protect children under 15 from the dangers of social media.
Fifth-year CCS Politics and Society students attended the May plenary meeting in Lifford with teachers Damien Duffy and Marie Lafferty, and councillors agreed to write to Minister for Children Norma Foley on their behalf.
The students have been researching whether children under 15 should have full access to social media. They focused on the impact of harmful content on social media, online targeting and the pressures faced by children moving from primary to secondary school.
Their findings do not call for a ban for those aged under 15, but instead point to the need for restrictions that take children’s views into account and strike a balance between protection and access.
Students highlighted that taking social media away from young people entirely would also remove an important source of communication and their rights to information.
Their next goal is to discuss their campaign with Minister for Children, Norma Foley, and that request was backed by the council through a motion by Fianna Fáil Cllr Martin McDermott and seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr Albert Doherty.
Cllr McDermott said the students had taken on “a very important issue” by looking at what is best for children in this digital age.
Research cited by the students showed 96% of children aged 10 to 15 use social media, and that seven out of 10 have been exposed to harmful content.
“There certainly is something that needs to be done,” Cllr McDermott said.
He said a young person could post something “light-heartedly” and then be targeted by other students or other people.
He added that mobile phones and online platforms are also an important part of young people’s lives.
“So getting a happy medium in those two things is something that these children want to try and get the right outcome for, both for them and for people coming behind them,” he said.
Cllr McDermott pointed out that many people, including public representatives, have first-hand experience of online abuse.
“We all know people who have had issues with social media, including people within this room and members in this room, where we have been targeted and attacked,” he said.
“But I think for children, particularly leaving primary school and moving on to secondary school, it’s a difficult time and it’s a time where they can be targeted very easily,” he said.
Cllr Albert Doherty, chair of the Board of Management at Carndonagh Community School, praised the students' engagement with councillors, saying more school authorities should listen to the views and recommendations of the student body.
Chief Executive John McLaughlin, also a past pupil of Carndonagh Community School, said the council would act on the motion.
“We are not going to chat about it. We are going to do something about it. That’s the real test.”
Mr McLaughlin said the council would work with the school before sending the letter, to ensure the students’ views were included and to make the submission “a bit more impactful” and share "what makes this conversation different coming from Donegal".