Serious consideration should be given to banning under-16s from using social media, similar to a law passed last year in Australia, according to Tánaiste Simon Harris.
In November 2024, the Australian parliament approved the restrictions which could see tech firms hit with heavy fines if they fail to comply.
Responding to a question in the Dáil yesterday from Independent TD Paul Gogarty, Mr Harris described the high numbers of young children using social media as a “ticking time bomb”.
He added that the Minister for Media had instructed his department to assess how other jurisdictions are dealing with the problem.
“We do need to look at what over countries are doing and I know my colleague Minister Patrick O’Donovan has asked his officials to look at other countries like Australia to see what they are doing, and I think Australia deserves great credit for the steps they are considering,” Mr Harris said.
The Tánaiste told the Dáil that while the digital age of consent in Ireland is 16, ‘workarounds’ have been found allowing younger children to access social media.
“Very serious consideration should be given to the idea of having to be 16 before you are on social media and aligning that with the digital age of consent in Ireland which is also 16,” he said.
In his contribution on the issue, Mr Gogarty said social media was having a profound impact on the mental health of young people and that Ireland needs to explore what Australia is doing.
“It’s not a panacea and there are drawbacks but our children must come first, not the superrich tech barons currently prostrating themselves before the Trump administration,” Mr Gogarty said.
