Safer Internet.
A new Irish site, Cybersmarties.com, has recently been launched, endorsed by Pat Courtney, Director of Anti Bullying Services, former National Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator SPHE, Dept of Education. The site aims to allow children to use social media in a controlled, supervised and safe environment.
“What children need is a basic building block; a skill set that will serve them in good stead for lifelong engagement with the internet, and will ensure that they can cope on the occasions when the cyber-wolf comes to the door. The skill set needs to include: discernment; critical thinking; empathy; and the ability to cope when presented with uncomfortable behaviour. Cybersmarties.com is about developing these relevant and age appropriate attitudes and strategies in a supervised and controlled cyber environment. Cybersmarties.com’s values relate comfortably to personal safety aspects of the SPHE Curriculum, and relate to strands such as ‘Myself and the wider world – media education’, and ‘Myself and others’.”
Cybersmarties.com will help:
- Develop netiquette and good habits
- Enjoyment of and confidence in communicating on social media
- Perspective taking
- Consideration and support for others.”
Pat Courtney (B.A,M.Ed, Director of Anti Bullying Services, former National Anti-Bullying Co-ordinator SPHE, Dept of Education)
Cybersmarties.com is Irish owned, based in Limerick. It is being launched for school and home use but children can only register through their school, eliminating the risk of predators accessing the site. The site does not post photos and has no public ‘like’ button. There is no advertising and there is an immediate response to any threat of cyber bullying. The site is endorsed by prominent figures working in the field of cyber safety and bullying prevention, it is safe for children and fun to use while at the same time educating children in the responsible use of social media.
“Cybersmarties.com is a progressive, up to date social media site developed for children, with children’s internet safety and education in mind. At Cybersmarties.com they have a keen understanding of what makes for safe and responsible use of social media as well as how to tackle the negative behaviours which can result in cyberbullying and other misuse. They do this through a clever form of positive reinforcement using video clips and daily messages which promote responsible use by children at an early age. I would highly recommend the use of Cybersmarties.com to Parents and Teachers”
John Wills (School Cyber Safety Consultant, Psychologist) (BA Psych;MA; Dip CBT)
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