The Daily Star Ireland
Ireland is evaluating the possibility of implementing a ban on social media usage for individuals under the age of 16, drawing inspiration from recent legislative actions taken by Australia. Tánaiste Simon Harris has emphasized the urgency of addressing the widespread use of social media among young people, describing it as a “ticking time bomb” that necessitates immediate and serious consideration.
In November 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, establishing a legal minimum age of 16 for creating accounts on major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter). This legislation, set to take effect in December 2025, mandates that social media companies implement age verification measures to prevent underage users from accessing their services. Failure to comply could result in fines up to AU$50 million. Notably, the law does not allow for parental consent as a means to bypass the age restriction.
In Ireland, while the digital age of consent is currently set at 16, there are concerns about the effectiveness of this regulation due to various workarounds that allow younger children to access social media platforms. According to data from CyberSafeKids, a significant percentage of 12-year-olds in Ireland are active on social media or messaging apps, and a vast majority own smartphones.
Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan has initiated a review to assess international approaches to regulating youth access to social media, with a particular focus on the Australian model. Harris has called for cross-party collaboration to explore the feasibility of implementing similar measures in Ireland, emphasizing the need to move beyond self-regulation and establish a robust framework to protect children online.
The Australian legislation has sparked discussions in other countries as well. New Zealand has introduced a draft bill proposing a similar ban for individuals under 16, indicating a growing international trend towards stricter age regulations on social media usage.
