Difficult one. A while ago my daughter was asked to be 'friends' by a middle-aged guy her mother and I both know. I didn't think it was appropriate and we blocked it.

Similarly, I was Chairman of our local branch of Comhaltas and I've had requests from some of the kids in the branch which I've ignored simply because I don't think it's appropriate for middle-aged men to have internet 'Friendships' with young kids. I've explained that to their parents and told them I'm not snubbing their kids and they're cool with it.

I have struck up friendships with musicians I've been a fan of and is some cases we've become quite pally. In other cases we haven't so I've kind of let it slide with those and not bothered them any more. I think if you enter that sort of arena you are, to some extent, compromising your own privacy and you have to accept that if you're going to play the game.

Where kids are concerned, though, it's another ball game entirely. If an adult (especially one whom your child doesn't regulary see) tries to contact your child then in my view, that's when the alarm bells ring.