Parents Urged To Vigilantly Monitor Children's Internet Use

Parents are being urged to monitor their children's use of the internet with extra vigilance after the discovery of malicious Instagram accounts.

Sinn Fein MLA Catherine Kelly warned of the fake and potentially dangerous social media profiles that are circulating in the Omagh area.

The party's spokesperson for Children and Young People has reported the sinister accounts to the PSNI who have advised parents and young people to screenshot any abusive photos or posts and report them immediately.

"I have been contacted by concerned parents about the existence of these malicious and sinister accounts which have been sending nasty and abusive messages about children as young as thirteen," Miss Kelly said.

"Cyberbullying is of massive concern and has been a contributing factor in a number of tragic suicides by young people in this area in the recent past. Those who set up such accounts need to be aware of the hurt they are inflicting and perhaps even leading to potential tragedies."

The west Tyrone MLA emphasised the dangers that exist online and encouraged young people who may be being bullied in any way to report to a family member, a teacher or to a trusted person in the community.