TMAP Annual Forum: Parents and teachers need to empower young people about online safety

19 Mar 2009

Clinical psychologist, child expert and television presenter, Professor Tanya Byron, has called for parents and teachers to learn more about the digital “global playground” that children and young people are operating in.

Speaking at the Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) annual forum earlier this week Professor Byron added that young people are taking risks online and parents needed to learn how to empower their children to navigate the "digital highway".

She said: "It is important to talk ‘with’ not ‘to’ children. Cyber bullying is a massive issue and it is only recently that adults are taking this on board."

Also speaking at the forum was Mark Limmer, Deputy Regional Teenage Pregnancy Co‐ordinator for the North‐West who spoke about Sex and Relationship Education and and Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East who discussed her experiences of social networking.

In addition students from Thomas Tallis School in South East London shared their experience of online safety issues.

Details from Charlie Phillips at PPA on .