Irish Safer Internet Centre

Location

Dublin, Ireland

Website

https://www.webwise.ie

About the organisation

The Irish Safer Internet Centre exists to promote a safer and better use of the internet and mobile technologies among children and young people.

Profile last reviewed: March 2022

Awareness centre

Description:

‘Webwise' is the Irish internet safety awareness node. Webwise promotes the autonomous, effective, and safer use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting parents, teachers, and children themselves with consistent and relevant messages. Webwise develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate internet safety into teaching and learning in their schools. It also provides information, advice, and tools to parents to support their engagement in their children's online lives. With the help of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel, Webwise develops youth-oriented awareness-raising resources and campaigns that address topics such as cyberbullying. Webwise is part of the PDST Technology in Education, which promotes and supports the integration of digital technologies in teaching and learning in first and second level schools across Ireland.

Email address: internetsafety@pdst.ie
Website: http://www.webwise.ie
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/Webwise
https://twitter.com/Webwise_Ireland
https://vimeo.com/channels/webwise https://www.instagram.com/webwiseireland/

Helpline

Description:

The Irish Safer Internet Centre (SIC) has two helplines. Childline, run by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), provides services where children affected by issues encountered on the internet and other issues such as bullying and sexuality may turn for advice and guidance on a 24/7 basis. The National Parents Council Primary (NPC) bullying helpline, is run by a nationwide organisation representing the parents of children attending early and primary education.

Childline, established in 1988, is a service for children up to the age of 18. Childline provides a 24-hour listening service which empowers children using the mediums of telecommunications and information technology. Childline's phone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Childline's One to One live chat service and Teentxt service are available from 10.00-16.00 daily. Young people can contact the One to One live chat service by logging on to www.childline.ie.

The NPC was established in 1985. The NPC Helpline is a national confidential service for parents, in existence since 1998. The Bullying Helpline is an extension of the existing NPC Helpline. It is aimed mainly at parents and other adults and operates Monday to Tuesday from 10.00-16.00 and Wednesday to Friday from 10.00-17.00. The majority of the requests for help relate to bullying by other children. Enquiries received on cyberbullying are either by text message or via Facebook, and concern threats and other harmful comments.

Alternative Helpline website: www.npc.ie

Alternative Helpline email address: helpline@npc.ie

Email address: ispcc@ispcc.ie
Website: https://www.childline.ie
Social media:
https://www.facebook.com/ISPCCChildline
https://twitter.com/ISPCCChildline
https://www.youtube.com/user/ISPCCIreland https://www.linkedin.com/company/ispcc

Hotline

Description:

The Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland (ISPAI) provides an anonymous reporting service - Hotline.ie - to members of the public who accidentally uncover illegal content on the internet, particularly online child sexual abuse material (CSAM), referred to in Irish legislation as child pornography. Discover what types of content should be reported to Hotline.ie.

Tackling the issue of online illegal content requires a national and international multi-stakeholder approach. Nevertheless, the rate of success depends primarily on the vigilance of the public and their readiness to report suspected illegal content. If the Irish public encounter suspected illegal content, and do not report it, neither the Industry nor Law Enforcement would know about it and would not be in a position to act against it.

To ensure international reach and fast response to CSAM hosted outside Irish jurisdiction, ISPAI is one of the founding members of the International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE), which has grown over the years to a network of 51 Internet Hotlines in 45 countries worldwide.

Read more about the work of ISPAI in its latest Annual Report.

Email address: report@hotline.ie
Website: https://www.hotline.ie
Social media:
https://twitter.com/Hotline_ie

Youth participation

Description:

The Webwise Youth Advisory Panel is made up of 35 teenagers from across Ireland. Together with the Webwise team, the youth panel helps to develop youth-oriented awareness-raising resources and campaigns that address topics such as cyberbullying. The youth panel is also involved in mentoring fellow students who participate in the Safer Internet Day Ambassador programme. This peer education programme helps to train young people to lead Safer Internet Day activities in their communities.

Safer Internet Day Ambassador Programme
Webwise runs a peer-led training programme involving teens from across Ireland. The SID Ambassador Programme was designed and led by Webwise Youth Panellists. It encourages and supports post-primary students to address the issue of cyberbullying and other areas in internet safety by leading awareness-raising campaigns in their clubs, schools, and communities. Webwise provides training to the youth ambassadors to empower them to lead safer internet campaigns in their schools. The aim is to make Safer Internet Day a success in communities and schools across Ireland. 

Email address: internetsafety@pdst.ie
Website: https://www.webwise.ie/youth/

Key successes

Participation in Safer Internet Day grows each year in Ireland. Wide-ranging initiatives and activities take place to help make the internet a safer and better place for all, especially for children and young people.

HTML Heroes: Welcome to the Internet – 1st and 2nd Class Online Safety Programme
The HTML Heroes Programme has been designed for teachers of 1st and 2nd class to introduce pupils to the first steps of accessing and using the internet in a safe and responsible manner. The resource contains five lessons that can be explored separately or delivered as a whole unit.
The lessons explore using the internet safely, communicating online, playing and learning online, getting help and support. Each lesson is supported by a short illustrated story, lesson activities, and take-home information for parents/guardians. The programme concludes with an animated online safety code song.

Connected
Connected has been specifically designed for teachers of the Junior Cycle Digital Media Literacy Short Course who wish to explore Online well-being; News, Information and problems of false information; Big data and the data economy; and Rights online. Connected aims to empower young people to be effective, autonomous and safe users of technology and online media.

The Connected resource is supported by three videos. The short film Connected explores how young people communicate and connect online, and encourages young people to reflect on why their actions matter and the impact it can have on others. Explained: What is False Information? looks at the topic of false information online, who creates it and why, and how to spot it. Explained: What is Big Data? explores Big Data and the data economy.

HTML Heroes: An Introduction to the Internet
The HTML Heroes Programme is for primary school teachers who wish to introduce internet safety into SPHE for 3rd and 4th classes. Topics explored include respectful online communication, privacy, searching for information online, online well-being and screen time. The programme is supported by interactive activities and four short animations featuring Ruby and Archie; the HTML Heroes who come to life when the classroom empties out.

Be in Ctrl
The Be in Ctrl is a Junior Cycle SPHE educational resource addressing the issue of Online sexual coercion and extortion. The resource includes information for school leaders, three lesson plans and is supported by the Garda School Programme. Teachers are free to adapt the resource depending on their class requirements.
 
Lockers educational resource (including Forever video)
Lockers is a resource on the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Intended for use with Junior Cycle SPHE classes, the education resource is supported by two newly-developed animations and six lesson plans. Lockers was developed to support schools as they address the issue of non-consensual sharing of intimate images (sometimes referred to as "revenge porn"), in the context of the SPHE class. The resource aims to foster empathy, respect and resilience and to help young people understand the consequences of their actions. The Lockers resource is supported by the compelling Forever video which highlights the potential consequences of non-consensual sharing of intimate images among teens.

Parents' guide to a better internet
This guide gives parents support, advice and information to help their children have a positive experience online. Topics explored in the guide include cyberbullying, screen time, sexting, social media and online pornography.

Key partners/supporters

Supporters of Safer Internet Centre Ireland include:

  • Department of Education
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs
  • Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Department of Justice and Equality
  • Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland
  • National Office for Suicide Prevention
  • Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)