Calls to enforce existing child online safety laws in Ireland
An Irish children's rights expert says existing laws could make social media safer for children now, while teenagers describe their own experiences.
RTÉ reports that the Government does not need to wait for new European Union legislation to make children safer online, according to Noeline Blackwell, Online Safety Coordinator with the Children's Rights Alliance. Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, she said: "We have a lot of law already, it has to be a question of actually implementing that."
What is being discussed
Ms Blackwell said a Europe-wide approach is needed, because some large social media companies are based in Ireland while others are based elsewhere in Europe. She said the European Commission has preliminary findings that Facebook, Instagram and TikTok carry a risk of addiction and that children can access them too young. She also welcomed the EU Kids Act proposals announced last month. As described in the report, they include a ban on social media for under-13s, limited use for under-15s, and apps that are safer by design. She argued that this would move responsibility from children and parents to the tech companies, and said gaming and AI companions should also be covered.
What teenagers said
RTÉ spoke to teenagers in a Foróige youth group in Newcastle West, Co Limerick. They said they all began using social media before 13, the minimum age for many popular apps, and several regretted starting so young. They described bullying, harassment, the ease of sharing something personal by mistake, and comment sections that make light of upsetting events. One teenager said she can spend hours on her phone after school and wishes apps were less addictive. Another said tutorials on her feed had led her to take up origami, so the experience is not all negative.
Why it matters for children
The group leader, who is also a secondary school teacher, said teenagers often stop to watch a video out of curiosity and then see more of the same. The National Women's Council of Ireland said recommendation systems are designed to maximise engagement, so a user who interacts with sexist content is likely to be shown more of it. The Government has said it is concerned about young people seeing content that promotes harmful gender stereotypes, including the so-called manosphere and tradwife trends, as part of its National Strategy for Women and Girls.
Several of the teenagers said parents should take a more active role in following what their children do on social media, and that apps need better protection for younger users. The debate is still at the proposal stage, so day-to-day habits at home remain important in the meantime.
What parents can do
- Ask your child what appears in their feed and what they make of it, without judgement, so they feel able to tell you about upsetting content.
- Check the minimum age and the privacy and recommendation settings on any app your child uses, and review them together from time to time.
- Agree some phone-free times, such as after school or before bed, and remind your child they can talk to you if something online worries them.