Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to explore a mandatory under-16s ban on social media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34635/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Online safety for children is a Government priority and a top priority for me as Minister. It’s essential that we make sure children do not see illegal, harmful or inappropriate content while being able to safely avail of all the benefits of the online world.

It is my view that robust age verification is essential for keeping children safe online. Last week, I met the main social media companies and reiterated this point to them. I am committed to working across Government and with all stakeholders to ensure children and young people can be safe from harmful or illegal content online, in particular, through robust age verification.

We have all seen how pointless self declaration of age is in terms of keeping children safe from harmful content. Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Code, which applies to video-sharing platforms established in Ireland, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X, makes it clear that simply requiring self-declaration of age is no longer sufficient for platforms to meet their legal obligations. Part B of the Code, which will apply from next month, obliges them to implement effective age assurance measures to ensure that, for example, adult-only video content cannot normally be seen by children.

In addition to the Online Safety Code, Coimisiún na Meán also has powers under the Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to address the risk of children and young people being exposed to illegal online content including by means of age-verification or age-assurance, setting children’s accounts as private by default, adjusting recommender systems and allowing children to block or mute users.

We must build on this to make sure there are trustworthy systems in place for verifying age that respects users’ rights, including data protection. In my view, it is the only way to provide real assurance that children are the age they claim to be and to ensure they are not exposed to harmful or illegal content. I will be including a commitment to this effect in the Government’s updated National Digital Strategy which will be published later this year and my officials are already working with Government’s Chief Information Officer and his Office to look at practical technical solutions in this regard.

Age verification is essential in terms of enforcing existing minimum age requirements for opening a social media account or accessing adult content. But it is equally an essential first step if the current minimum age threshold were to be adjusted.

In terms of restricting access to social media for particular age groups at national level, any such measures must comply with the DSA because it is an EU Regulation that requires maximum harmonisation for all EU Member States, including Ireland. In that context, I asked my officials to examine international initiatives that are underway or currently being considered elsewhere to protect the safety of children, including in relation to limiting access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16. They have prepared a report on the matter which I am currently considering.

I am determined to make progress on this key issue and will work with other EU member states, including in the context of Ireland's Presidency of the EU next year, on effective and practical solutions that respect the provisions of the DSA and have regard to the rights of children, while protecting them from harm.