Teenage boy sentenced after online harassment 

  • A 17-year-old has been given a six-month deferred sentence and supervised probation for “harrowing” online harassment of BBC reporter Aileen Moynagh.
  • The harassment took place over a five-month period over Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn between October 2020 and February 2021. 
  • The boy created over 40 aliases on the internet and was banned from Twitter about 150 times. 
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website. 

Snapchat to allow username changes for the first time 

  • Snapchat is going to allow users to change their username for the first time
  • Users will be allowed to change their username once a year on the platform.
  • Snapchat hopes that the change will be important for trans and non-binary users
  • You can read the full story on the Independent’s website. 

SmartWater forensic spray used in domestic abuse conviction  

  • The first person in the UK has been convicted and jailed for domestic abuse after being sprayed with SmartWater. 
  • The technology is being trialled by police forces in hope of keeping women safe in cases of domestic abuse
  • This follows that protection referrals for child victims of domestic abuse have risen by 8% over the last year in the UK. 
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.  

Post-primary pupils told to continue wearing face coverings 

  • The Department of Education (DE) has said the post-primary pupils should continue to wear face coverings in class after half-term. 
  • Pupils were advised to wear a face-covering while inside school buildings, including classrooms, corridors, and confined communal spaces like toilet areas. 
  • This follows COVID-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland ceasing to be legally binding in enclosed spaces. 
  • You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.