Ulster Unionist Party Children and Young People Spokesperson, Sandra Overend, has successfully led the debate in an All Party Motion on Internet Safety coinciding with the UK Safer Internet Day.

The Mid Ulster MLA said:

“This is an issue which I have been pursuing for some time. Last year I was very disappointed that Internet Safety Day passed virtually un-noticed, and I requested a meeting with the Junior ministers from the Office of the First and deputy First Minister at that time.

I felt it was their responsibility to take a lead on this issue and they eventually agreed to meet me in October. They then accepted my proposal that they carry out a scoping exercise to find where there are gaps and how those need to be filled.

As children and young people spokesperson for the Ulster Unionist Party and, importantly, as a parent, I was delighted to open this debate on internet safety, which coincides with UK internet safety day. I hope that we, in this jurisdiction and this Assembly, can contribute something positive on this important issue.

The internet and social networking is a wonderful tool. The digital revolution is as important as other periods of technological change in history. We cannot imagine life without Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and the internet, and the way in which it enriches our young people's lives and is so much part of day-to-day life. However, the internet and social media have a more sinister side. There are risks to our children and young people in the online world.

It is important to recognise some key facts about internet usage. Ofcom's recent figures show that three in four 5 – 7 year-olds use the internet, as do 95% of 8 – 11 year-olds. All 12 – 15 year-olds use the internet. How long do they spend online in the average week? 5 – 7 year-olds spend about six hours online weekly. The figure is just over eight hours for 8 – 11 year-olds, and 12 – 15 year-olds spend just as much time online, over 17 hours a week, as they do watching television.

Worryingly, in 2011-12, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre received an average of 1,300 reports a month. Thirteen per cent of UK 9 – 16 year-olds have been bothered or upset by something online in the past year. Dealing with peer pressure and bullying at school is very difficult at the best of times, but, with the additional aspect of contact through the internet and mobile phone exchanges, the problems that our young people experience can be frightening.

I am one of those stick-in-the-mud mums who refuses to allow her children to have a Facebook profile, yet 98% of 8 – 15 year-olds who have an active social networking site use Facebook despite the minimum age being 13.

However, the pace of evolution is rapid and so must our response be. Part of the challenge is around co-ordination and strategic direction. Internet safety is not found as an issue in the 10-year children's strategy or action plan. Many of the levers, such as action through regulators, are excepted matters, and there is locus in Whitehall, meaning that oversight is diluted through diffusion of responsibility across Administrations and across Departments here.

Whilst I welcome the fact that all parties supported the Motion and that the Junior Minister are supportive of a joined up approach on this issue led by OFMdFM, I do still have concerns. The scoping exercise – instigated following the October meeting – is not yet complete and I would have expected to have learned of the results of that exercise during today’s debate along with the promise of a cross-departmental strategy, rather than merely receive the promise of a round-table discussion group to move this process forward.

I am determined to continue to press for timely and genuine progress on this extremely important issue.”  

Resolved:

That this Assembly recognises the dangers for children associated with the internet; commits to building on the work which is already ongoing in this area at both Westminster and Stormont; and calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to take the lead on the publication of a cross-departmental internet safety strategy to help children enjoy the internet safely