23TRA737 - Social Media and Children : Webinar for Parents/Guardians

Date : Tuesday, 5th December 2023
Time : 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Venue : Online

Target Audience : Parents/Guardians of Primary School Students

Topics Covered:

Social Media, what is popular among Irish children;
What are the challenges for children and parents/guardians (e.g., challenging Apps; age in-appropriate content & negative influence; online pressures; grooming; sexting, gaming, class group chats; mental health issues, screen-time, sleep);
Cyber-bullying: What it is? Why it happens? and how to deal with it;
Devising an internet and technology use agreement;
Resources for use at home

BIO - DR. MAUREEN EDEL GRIFFIN - B.A., M.A., PH.D. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, DIRECTOR MGMS TRAINING LIMITED

Dr. Maureen Griffin, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. holds an honours degree in Applied Psychology, a Masters in Forensic Psychology and a Ph.D. in Applied (Forensic) Psychology (specifically in the area of Sex Offender Assessment).

Maureen has delivered lectures in the areas of abnormal psychology, mental health and crime, sexual offenders, online internet solicitation and risk assessment on Forensic Psychology, Criminal Behaviour & Criminalistics courses in Universities across Ireland. Maureen has also delivered guest lectures on Detective and Sergeant Training Courses in An Garda Síochána and on National and International Military Police Courses with the Irish Defence Forces.

Maureen has visited over 700 schools (primary & post primary) across Ireland speaking with students, staff, BOM members and parents regarding issues around social media, cyber-bullying and internet and mobile phone safety. Maureen has also delivered presentations around social media and child protection for the HSE, Brothers of Charity, NEPS, Gardaí and the NAPD. Maureen has presented at the ILSA Conference, CESIT Conference, 4th Biennial Child Protection & Welfare Social Work Conference, UCC, Guidance Counsellors Conference and Youth Mental Health Conferences across Ireland.

Maureen’s primary research interests are in the area of hebephilic sexual offenders, specifically focusing on the role of the Internet in the online solicitation of minors and the utility of implicit measurement techniques in the risk appraisal of sexual offenders. Maureen has analysed online grooming cases from America, identifying patterns of behaviour and escalation in risk of contact offending. Maureen has also worked with offenders in Irish prisons testing the efficacy of implicit measurement techniques in assessing risk.