Cyber-bullying and social media attacks involving schoolchildren and teachers are a growing concern across the British Isles.

Tough measures to tackle the issue in the island have been outlined in a draft for an updated Education Bill, published this month.

We asked residents what concerns they have about cyber-bullying.

’Cyber bullying is just as bad as punching someone on the face,’ said Everys Kennish, from Onchan.

’It’s disgusting. I’ve heard stories of kids in the UK committing suicide because of it. It’s horrible that some kids feel they have no other option but to take their life.’

’Parents just say "go and deal with it", but mentally kids aren’t the strongest. Parents should be more alert about what their kids are looking at on the internet.’

Her friend Debbie Barrow, 49, from Onchan, said: ’I think it’s easy to go on to the internet nowadays. I don’t think mums and dads should give young kids phone and as parents you should intervene.’

Dad of two Ian Gribble, 51, from Baldrine, said: ’Of course I’m concerned about cyber bullying. Anything that could harm my children, I’m concerned about.’

When asked if he would ever look through his children’s phones to check on them, he replied: ’I wouldn’t do that. I would certainly ask them if they’ve got any issues and the relationship that I’ve got with my children I’d hope they would tell me.’

He added that ’cyber bullying was not confined to school’, saying the workplace could also be a problem area.

Max Ellenberger, 30, from Douglas, said: ’I’m against bullying full stop. I think everyone’s a bit guilty when they’re on Facebook, especially in this trolling culture whether that’s on the government website with people commenting or the police pages.

’It’s a lot easier to say something on Facebook than face to face. I’ve done it, I know I have. The classic British example is people not saying to a manager that their food was cold but then posting about it later online.’

Onchan resident Peter Taylor, 23, said that bullying has always been a problem in schools. ’I remember it being name calling and physical bullying,’ he said.

His advice for those being victimised is to ’tell someone about your problems and stand up for yourself’.

William Maska, 24, from Ramsey, said: ’I think it’s become more endemic recently. It’s good because it’s coming into the local domain now people are seeing it and being able to see the tell-tale signs.

’I get the feeling though that the government can’t actually do much because it’s one of those invisible problems which can’t really be policed because of the fact that how far can you go before you’re prying into people’s personal lives?’

His friend Sarah Leonard, 30, from Douglas, said: ’I think bullying is one of those things that, as awful as it is, it’s always going to be there.

’The only way you could police cyber bullying more - to stop children from having accounts too young - would be to take an approach more where you get for gambling websites, like you have to actually send your due diligence to the website in order to get the account officially set up.’ She added itwas ’probably going too far’.