A social media guru is calling for schoolchildren to be given lessons in social networking to keep them on the right side of the law.

Kelda Wallis, a new business manager at Tempero of Pine Street, Finsbury – a consultancy firm which provides social media advice to companies including Manchester United, Sony and Orange – says arrests this year for offensive tweets show the need for guidance.

She said: “Young people in particular are using this fast, wide-reaching mass communication tool without fully appreciating the consequences of their actions.

“What’s needed is guidance that helps them appreciate that what’s OK amongst their own friendship groups, within their own sets of boundaries, doesn’t necessarily translate to platforms like Twitter or Facebook.”

A student from Swansea served a prison sentence after insulting footballer Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a heart attack during a match in March.

During the Olympics, another young person was arrested for insulting diver Tom Daley’s late father.