Coimisiún na Meán’s Cyberbullying Pilot Explained
A cyberbullying pilot is now being prepared by Coimisiún na Meán. Chairperson Jeremy Godfrey has described a cross platform route so teachers, parents and civil-society groups can escalate verified cases where a child faces imminent risk of harm, instead of relying only on individual reports to each platform.
The plans were reported by the Irish Independent on 27 October 2026. A proposed framework has already been shared with members of Ireland’s Safer Internet Centre, including ISPCC Childline, Webwise, Hotline.ie and the National Parents Council. Once the framework is agreed, the pilot could begin within six weeks.
Individual reports often hit a dead end
Platforms currently expect users to report content through each service’s own tools. The platform then decides whether the material breaks its rules and whether to act. When the same accounts or posts appear across several apps, parents and schools must repeat the process on every service. Response times and outcomes differ. For a child at imminent risk, that delay is the problem.
Godfrey pointed out that home used to offer some refuge from school bullying. Now the same content can follow a child around the clock. Ireland’s Online Safety Code already treats cyberbullying as harmful content that video-sharing platforms must address. The pilot aims to give trusted organisations a direct channel to present verified, multi-platform evidence, with the regulator acting as the link.
How a verified case would move
In practice, a child, parent or teacher would bring the evidence to one of the participating organisations. Those groups would gather and verify the material screenshots, account links and timestamps across the relevant platforms. The verified package would then go through the new pathway to the platforms for cases where a child faces imminent risk of harm.
This is not a replacement for ordinary reporting or for contact with An Garda Síochána when criminal offences are involved. It is an additional, faster route for serious cyberbullying that crosses platforms and has already been checked by a trusted intermediary. The regulator has circulated the draft framework. No firm start date exists until that framework is finalised.
What this means for schools and parents now
Schools already see the practical difficulty. A principal or year head collects evidence of coordinated harassment on two or three apps. Each platform’s reporting form asks for slightly different information and returns different results. The pilot offers a possible single channel once it is live.
Until then, the existing steps still matter. Preserve evidence immediately, screenshots with timestamps, URLs and account names. Do not rely on the child to keep the material visible. Report through the platform’s tools on every service involved and note the reference numbers. Contact the school’s designated liaison person and, where the risk is high, An Garda Síochána or Tusla as appropriate.
Parents and teachers can also use the practical guidance already available on our resources for parents page, including platform specific safety settings and device level controls. For cases that involve image based pressure or rapid contact moves, the steps outlined in our piece on online grooming on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram remain relevant. Review Instagram safety settings and similar controls on other services so new contacts and message requests can be restricted while a case is active. National helplines that form part of the Safer Internet Centre, including ISPCC Childline and Hotline.ie, remain available for advice and reporting support.
Parents and teachers who currently feel they are shouting into different inboxes will recognise the value of a verified pathway. The pilot does not remove the need for platform accountability under the Online Safety Code. It does create a practical mechanism for the cases where speed and multi-platform reach matter most.
References
- Irish Independent reporting on the Coimisiún na Meán pilot scheme (27 October 2026)
- Coimisiún na Meán – Online Safety Code obligations on harmful content including cyberbullying
- Ireland’s Safer Internet Centre partners: ISPCC Childline, Webwise, Hotline.ie, National Parents Council
Related Reading
- Resources for Parents: Online Safety Settings and Advice
- Online Grooming on Snapchat TikTok and Instagram
- Instagram Safety Settings for Parents
- Ireland’s Online Safety Code – Why Age Assurance Matters
About Children of the Digital Age
Children of the Digital Age provides online safety education and training for schools, parents and organisations. Our guides support practical conversations about online behaviour and the choices people make. However, education and app settings do not replace safeguarding or professional support.
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