Young people from across Ireland gathered at University College Dublin today (Monday, 29 June), for the inaugural Cyber Citizens: Cyber Sense Youth Panel, a national consultation on life online, digital resilience and cyber literacy.
The event, which took place in UCD’s O’Brien Centre for Science, gave 13–17-year-olds an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, priorities and ideas about digital culture, online security and cyber citizenship.
The consultation forms part of Cyber Citizens: A National Initiative for Digital Resilience and Cyber Literacy, a two-year programme led by the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education (cyberwise.ie) in partnership with the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Webwise, Oide Technology in Education and Pitt Cyber, supported by Research Ireland Discover Programme funding.
Dr Rachel Farrell, Director of the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education, said: “Young people experience the opportunities and challenges of digital life every day. Their perspectives must be central to the resources, supports and public conversations that affect them.
Participants’ insights will help shape Cyber Sense, which develops learning and support for schools, families and young people, and Cyber Smart, which is led by Olivia Waters, Head of Impact and Growth Strategy at the ADAPT Centre and Professor David Hickton founder of Pitt Cyber and informs public leaders and decision-makers about the issues affecting secure, inclusive and resilient digital communities.
The programme will open with Jane McGarrigle, National Coordinator of Webwise, followed by contributions from Dr Farrell, Principal Investigator of Cyber Citizens and Aisling Maloney, UN Youth Delegate of Ireland and member of the European Commission President’s Youth Advisory Board. Marelle Rice, Research Project Manager of Cyber Citizens, will facilitate two shared inquiry sessions. The inquiries will explore online culture, misinformation, scams, harm, responsibility, digital influence and the environmental impact of technology.
The panel, comprising representatives from Webwise Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), Comhairle na nÓg, Foróige, and Dublin North West Partnership, will also consider intergenerational differences and how trustworthy cyber citizenship information can be made accessible to young people, families and older adults.
The event will conclude with reflections from Janice Richardson, Director/Senior Advisor at Insight, a hub of international experts in digital education, expert to the Council of Europe, member of major social media safety advisory councils. This is especially timely as Ireland stands on the cusp of holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it offers an important opportunity to ensure that young people’s experiences and digital resilience are part of the conversation.
Special guests include Rachel Madden, Assistant Director in our Children and Vulnerable Adults team and representatives from organisations across the Cyber Citizens Steering Committee including the National Cyber Security Centre (Darragh Mc Sweeney and Alicja.Bobek) Foróige (Sarah Haslam and Jessica Murphy), the JCSP Demonstration Library Project (Kathleen Moran), UCD School of Education (Dr Conor Galvin and Declan Qualter), UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies (Eugenio Lilli), ETB Ireland (Dominic Mc Evoy and Niall Mulpeter), Laois Offaly ETB (Caroline Spollen) and UCD School of Computer Science (Anca Jurcut).
Keep up to date with the Cyber Citizens project @ cybercitizens.ie
