A Survey of Young Minds Online

As part of our celebrations of Social Media Week #SMW14 we are launching our survey of Young Minds Online in the Republic of Ireland. We are inviting teens and tweens to complete our survey which will give us a better understanding of the habits of young people on social networking sites. Please share this survey with a teen or tween you know. We do not ask for names, addresses or contact details, so it is completely anonymous. We will share the results of the survey on our Blog and also on our social networking sites. Click here to take survey

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Senator Backs Campaign to Protect Young Minds Online

“Social media studies should be part of school curriculum” – Senator Hildegarde Naughton   Galway-based Senator Hildegarde Naughton is backing a campaign to protect young minds online and is calling for social media studies to be introduced into the school curriculum. Her comments come on the first day of Social Media Week 2014 (#SMW14, 17-21 February). “I will be asking Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn to consider introducing a programme such as Young Minds Online into the school curriculum. The issue of cyber-bullying and protecting young minds online comes up frequently during the course of my work and I feel very

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Learn To Love Your Online Reputation This Valentines Day

Love Your Online Reputation As we increasingly live out our lives online, we’re finding that not only are there major downsides to all of that social media over-sharing—but we may have little control over the way we appear on the internet. The rise of the internet has given birth to a lot of good things … and a lot of things that are not so good. (Forbes) Your online reputation can be seen in a number of ways. Whether you’re looking for a job, selling a product, or trying to score a date with that girl/guy you always bump into on

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What’s the Problem with Neknomination? Social Media or Personal Responsibility

Reports that two young Irish men have died as a result of what’s called a ‘Neknomination’ calls into question the use of social media to drive peer pressure. Irish Independent article  Irish Daily Mirror article Sunday World article TheJournal.ie #STOPneknomination (please share the # on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) The drinking trend believed to originate in Australia and coined “Neknomination” involves the “neknominator” who, after posting a video of themselves online downing a pint, then “neknominates” one or two of his friends to follow suit. The rules dictate that they now have 24 hours to upload their video and nominate

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