“PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE” Vienna Woods Hotel, 29th June (10:00am – 12:30)

PRESS RELEASE :  “PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE” FORUM,

VIENNA WOODS HOTEL, Glanmire, Monday 29th JUNE (10:00am – 12:30)  

TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONGST PARENTS AND YOUNG WEB USERS – ABOUT ONLINE SAFETY ISSUES & SAFEGUARDING YOUR FAMILY IN SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITIES  

Dara Murphy, Minister for Data Protection & European Affairs, will host a public forum in the Vienna Woods hotel, Co.Cork (29 June, 10:00-12:30) to better inform parents and young Social Media users about Digital Privacy, encouraging them to take precautionary steps to better Protect themselves online. This important event in Glanmire, is one-in a series of outreach ‘Protect Yourself Online’ forum’s in Co.Cork, which have been organised by Minister Murphy, with the purpose of informing families about the need to protect their Digital footprint, and to better understand Social Media trends & Online Communities, empowering Parents to safeguard their families Digital Privacy, through greater educational awareness and practical tips about challenging irresponsible Online behaviour.    Cork North Central based (FG) Minister Dara Murphy, will be joined on the speaker panel by leading Social Media expert, Tony McCarthy, founder of Adapptise, who will be sharing advice on protecting your Digital Privacy and Safeguarding your Online reputation, along with former Cork Garda Detective, John Dwyer, who is now a leading spokesperson at Combat Cyber-bullying charity ‘Bully 4 U’ and will offer practical guidance to counter online bullying. Parents attending will also have an opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance from the guest speakers, including from Ian Power of SpunOut.ie a Leading Youth Information website, with 100,000 monthly readers and Joanne Sweeney-Burke, Webiket – Young Minds Online.    Speaking in advance of next week’s event, Minister for European Affairs, Dara Murphy, said: “Ireland, has been an early adopter of new Social Media and Mobile trends, with almost every household now having multiple mobile devices, with Apps and digital platforms, through which users play video games, watch YouTube video clips and keep in touch with their peers, through Social Media Messaging. The popularity of Smartphone’s among’st all age groups, together with the global reach of Social Media communities, creates new challenges in terms of digital privacy and Online Safety. Social Media does have a positive social benefit for 24/7 instant communication, as we have seen during the recent Berkeley tragedy, when the Irish Consulate in San Francisco used Twitter messages to update concerned families about the welfare of their loved one’s, also twitter enabled college friends in Ireland and the US to keep in touch. However vulnerable young users on Social Media also need to be protected. Our goal therefore with this forum, is to safeguard web and social media users, raising awareness about Digital Privacy and Online Reputation issues, and empowering them through expert knowledge and advice to better protect themselves.”   Tony McCarthy, Social Media Consultant, Adapptise,  will also share insights on social media trends, changing face of social media communications and advice on techniques to better protect yourself in social media networks.