A new education programme from the University of Galway is being rolled out to transition year students nationwide, with a strong focus on 'digital empathy'.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Professor Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, said empathy is not just about kindness, it is about understanding perspectives and emotions, especially in an online world where behaviour can quickly become disconnected from reality.

“[Online] we can feel disinhibited and do and say things that we wouldn't dream of doing or saying face-to-face,” he said.

The course aims to teach teenagers how to navigate life, including digital spaces, with compassion and awareness. 

Professor Kelly explained that while some people may naturally be more empathetic, empathy can be learned, and adolescence is the ideal time to do it.

“Transition Year is a prime time because various brain regions are still developing," he said. 

“If people can get into the habit of compassionate behaviour, that can be a habit that lasts a lifetime,” the psychiatrist added.

The programme includes exercises in emotional literacy, perspective-taking and social learning, reminding students of their human capacity for empathy, and encouraging them to apply it online.

Addressing concerns about the initiative being “too woke”, Professor Kelly was clear:

“If this all sounds a bit woke, then so be it.”

At its core, he said, the aim is simple: to create a generation that doesn’t lose empathy behind a screen.

Kelly enphasised the relevancy of this course within the digital age, as people continue to share more of their lives on social media.

“Awareness that we need to be empathetic online is particularly important for this younger generation.”

Written by Annemarie Roberts