Cathal BarryChurch ‘key’ to tackling cyberbullying – Bishop
Bishop Donal McKeown has warned of the dangers of social media following the tragic death of Ronan Hughes, who is believed to have taken his own life after being tricked into posting images on the internet.
The Bishop of Derry also said the Church remains “key” to combatting “external pressures and bullying” by developing a “sense of parish and local belonging”.
“Despite all the celebration of perceived advances in our society, we adults have actually created an increasingly dangerous world in which our young people grow up. Social media means that there is no private space in which young people can feel safe from external pressures and bullying,” he told The Irish Catholic.
“The best defence for individuals consists in strong family and community relationships. The sense of parish and local belonging, allied to the good news of the Gospel, remain key to what the Church can offer to our wonderful young people,” the bishop added.
Speaking at Ronan’s funeral on Tuesday, Fr Benny Fee accused “faceless people” of taking the teenager’s life.
Fr Fee also warned about the risks the internet poses for everyone.
Bosco McShane, who heads the Siolta Retreat Team in Co. Tyrone, said the local community was “still in shock” following Ronan’s death, adding that young people need to be made aware of the “dark side” of social media. “The internet has two sides really. It has its positives, of course, but everybody is open to cyberbullying once you open yourself up to the dark side of the internet,” Mr McShane said.
The youth leader said online bullying is “a real issue out there at the minute and schools are really just trying to get to grips with it now”.
“In the past there was always bullying in the playground, verbally and physically, but this is a new generational problem that every school, youth group and community are facing. Everybody, including the Church and young people themselves, has a role to play in tackling the issue,” he said.