POLICE IN NORTHERN Ireland have issued a warning to young people to take care online after the tragic death of a schoolboy in Tyrone.

The 17-year-old boy is believed to have taken his own life on Friday after he was tricked into posting images on a social networking site.

“Police are continuing to liaise with a number of statutory bodies and community representatives,” Mid-Ulster district police commander Superintendent Mike Baird said today.

“Officers have spoken to pupils at the school and in the area and offered advice regarding safe internet use and any type of virtual interaction including social media sites, chatrooms and through interactive games.

If anyone has experienced anything of a similar nature or has received any inappropriate images or links, it is important that they contact Police or tell a trusted adult. By doing this you will be helping prevent further such incidents. You will not get into trouble.

The advice issued today was:

• Don’t share personal information or images with people you don’t know;
•  Don’t accept friend requests with someone you don’t know;
• Set your privacy settings on all devices;
• Don’t post anything online that you are not happy to be shared;
• If someone has made you feel uncomfortable or you have had disturbing interaction online, tell someone you trust.

“We all deserve to be able to use the internet to learn, explore and connect with each other. But all of us need to be aware of the risks involved in doing so, especially on social media,” Baird added.

If you need someone to talk to, contact:

• Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 

• Console  1800 247 247 (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
• Aware 1890 303 302 (depression, anxiety)
• Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie - (suicide, self-harm)
• Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
• Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

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