Ireland plans to ban social media platforms for children under 16

Ireland is expected to ban access to social media platforms for children under 16 after Health Minister Stephen Donnelly declared harm to young people a “public health emergency”. The Health Minister likened the harm posed to children by social media companies to smoking. He said the crisis required a major response, including restrictions on home internet access and automatic parental controls, just like cigarettes. He added: “I think what we need to do is recalibrate the conversation we have with social media companies. “Right now, your product is harming children, so the first thing we need to do is stop them using it.” The minister continued in his so-called speech to the social media companies: “You have every ability to make sure your product is safe, so make sure it’s safe and then children can use it.”

Days after Education Minister Norma Foley announced plans to ban smartphones in secondary schools, Donnelly said he would further address children’s use of social media. “This is a public health emergency and we need to respond,” he said. “Just as there was evidence that smoking is harmful to health, a large-scale public health response is needed.”

A new online wellbeing taskforce, led by children’s rights advocate and former independent senator Gillian Van Turnhout, will examine harms to children and any gaps in existing laws. Draft terms of reference include a review of whether 13 is the appropriate age for children to access social media, and the “inadequacy” of age verification tools on platforms.

The minister asked for advice as soon as possible, including on how the government could implement age restrictions, such as requiring users to provide a government-issued ID to verify they were 16 or over. He said such age restrictions were necessary “so that social media platforms can be safe”. He added: “Social media companies say: we can’t do that, it’s too complicated. Can you imagine if alcohol companies or cigarette companies said the same thing? Well, then they should take their products off the market.”

As well as the taskforce, which includes interim chief medical officer Mary Hogan, Donnelly will soon launch a €1m campaign to highlight the extent of the risks and harms posed by social media to children, and how parents can mitigate them, in addition to providing extra funding to the ‘Safe for Children Online’ charity. Donnelly suggested that ISPs in Ireland should set parental controls as a default when installing broadband in homes, meaning customers would have to opt out of any content restrictions. He also offered to put warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those on cigarettes.

Donnelly said any new measures could be implemented in the same way as online gambling. He said other legislation might be needed but it was “too early to tell” whether the EU’s Digital Services Act, the Online Safety Act and Ireland’s media regulation would be enough. “Ultimately, we have to hold them (businesses) legally accountable for the harm they cause,” he added, stressing that some social media content presented to young people causes physical and mental health harms, including suicidal and rumination, self-harm, as well as sleep deprivation, eating disorders and body dysmorphia. About The Times of London

• The crisis requires a significant response, including limiting home internet access and automated parental controls.

• A one million euro campaign is to be launched to highlight the extent of the dangers and harm social media can cause to children.