Mum of the Month July - Avril Ronan
Avril Ronan
Cork mum Avril Ronan works in cyber security and runs free internet safety workshops for kids and families all over the country.
Mum of two Avril Ronan has a very hard job, but it’s one a lot of parents and teachers around the country are grateful that she does. This year more than ever, our children have been spending a huge amount of time sitting in front of screens and devices. While that has been a life saver for their education, lots of us are worried about how so much time online will affect them going forward.
Based in Cork, Avril is the Global Programme Manager for the Internet Safety for Kids and Families Programme with Trend Micro, which is a globally cyber security solutions company. She runs free internet safety workshops with the help of a team of volunteers.
“It is my task to deliver free cyber safety education into the community, where it’s needed most. Our Internet Safety for Kids and Families Programme (ISKF) is the corporate social responsibility arm of the company, so I work locally, nationally and on a global scale too. I do everything from training Trend Micro employees around the world to deliver our programme into their local communities, to coordinating 13 global annual kids video competitions - What’s Your Story? I also support international cyber safety organisations and work with law enforcement offering our cyber safety expertise. To date we have reached 2.8 million parents, educators and students, and that number keeps on growing each month through employee volunteerism and partnerships.”
Working in the field of cyber security means that Avril knows more than most about the challenges young people today face growing up in an increasingly online world.
“Life online and offline is fluid for young people, which is different to my generation. It is harder for them to switch off. The internet is an amazing place for a million reasons from learning to socialising, but there is definitely a pressure to be, feel and look your best online. You need look no further than your favourite social network to understand what I mean. That pressure applies not just to young people but to all ages, my own included. If young people are feeling in any way vulnerable, which was often the case during COVID, then the internet can be a supportive place, but its dangers are often looming. Vigilance, education and resilience are key to navigating the online world safely and responsibly.”
Avril’s daughter is 11 and her son is 14 so she has first-hand experience of raising children in the digital era.
“Can you imagine how my kids feel about this given the job that I do?! They do help me when I am doing research on new apps and games which is great. I use mealtimes to bring up stories I have come across in the news, or about things I’ve heard like, how young and old alike can get caught out online and about how important it is to cross check your sources of news. For years there has been so much misinformation online. COVID really shed a light on this, which raised awareness I hope for everyone. If they feel that I am in ‘work’ mode I am told fairly quickly, so I find sharing stories over dinner is a great way to open up the conversation about life online, we all learn from each other. My two children also teach me a lot, especially when it comes to gaming. When they ask me for a new app or game; we research it together online, talk about it and then we decide whether it's suitable or not. It’s the same with movies! Sometimes it’s a negotiation, but I’m reasonable and very fair with them always. It's easy to forget that I was a kid myself (not so long ago!).”
Avril says that there’s lots that parents and guardians can do to protect young people. “A good relationship with your children from a young age is key. Active listening and engaging online with whatever your child likes, whether it be Minecraft, movie making, Roblox, YouTube, Netflix or Fortnite, is a must. Get stuck in and understand what it is that your kids love about being online. You might even have a bit of fun and enjoy it. That way, your child will feel connected and find it easier to talk to you when they are worried, upset or proud of something that they have achieved online. The problems really start if the talking stops, so never underestimate the power of listening and the relationship that you have with your child. Sometimes, you won’t have the answers but that’s ok, young people often just need to be listened to. I have learned through our annual youth competition, What’s your Story?, that young people have so much to teach us about life online!”
Almost 500 people attended the first cyber safety webinar that Avril ran last February. The pandemic has meant that parents and schools are now much more open to online meetings. That means that she can reach even more people now than ever before. Delivering a fully free programme may seem like a strange thing for a business to do but Avril is passionate about helping future digital citizens to be safe online.
Work like this can be intense so outside of cyber security Avril enjoys down time with her family.
“My husband Paul and I live near Douglas in Cork, it’s half-way between the city and beaches, so it's just the perfect spot. I am a crazed Marvel fan and general movie buff, the whole family is really. Nobody is allowed to talk when a movie is on. I walk at least 5-10 km a day to feel human. If someone told me to take a hike, I would do so gladly! I love gardening, kayaking and am fluent in German, but sadly I don’t get to speak it much. I invested in a Kindle last year and just love a good psychological thriller. The last book I read, The Nothing Man was great, a local Cork serial killer on the loose!”