Most teenagers exposed to cyber violence

EUROPEAN-WIDE research to be published next week indicates that 90 per cent of Irish teenagers have been exposed to violence or hateful behaviour on the internet.

An Irish teenager is three times more likely to be exposed to such behaviour than his or her European counterpart, according to an EU Kids Online report which will be published next Friday.

Outlining the research at the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland's national conference in Croke Park yesterday, Dr Helen McQuillan said the figures were of "concern" but the subject of violence on the internet was poorly researched in Ireland and the results were based on a survey of teenagers in the Dublin area who used social networking sites.

She also said Irish teenagers (79 per cent) were much more likely to disclose personal details than their European counterparts (50 per cent). A total of 37 per cent had been exposed to pornography, slightly less than the EU average, and 19 per cent had been cyberbullied.

She said 7 per cent of Irish teenagers who had met a stranger online had met that person offline.

Meanwhile, RTÉ has announced it is developing new media guidelines for content producers to ensure against libel or slander.