Net safety lessons for youth workers

Youth workers from across Larne, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus attended an Internet Safety conference at Ballyclare Youth Centre recently.

The 90-plus people connected with the North Eastern Education Board Youth Service, included representatives from youth clubs, community groups and church-based youth provision.

NEELB area youth officer David Norris highlighted the important role of technology in society, particularly in the lives of young people, and there was a need to explore and understand the issues of internet safety and social networking.

Keynote speaker Paul Deighan, NEELB senior youth worker for ICT, pointed to the valuable role of social networking, as well pointing up the dangers when it is misused.

Participants watched a short drama titled Reality Bytes, which delved into the lives of a mother and daughter and showed the audience how the shift in how we communicate can have a detrimental impact on or lives.

A number of workshops followed, giving participants the opportunity to explore gaming, facebook, Youtube, blogging and general internet safety.