Ireland bans social media use for under-16s

Muhammad Sakhawat Hossain (Sakhawat Liton)

In order to protect children from negative influences, the Republic of Ireland government has passed a law banning social media sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat for under-16s for the first time in the world.

To implement this law, technology companies have been given a time frame to further improve age verification technology. The law also provides for large fines against those who violate this law.

Recently, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris proposed banning the use of social media for children under 16. He referred to it not only as a matter of technology use but also as a social and psychological crisis. According to him, it is not the time to ask - will we do something; rather, the question should be - when and how will we solve this problem. In this context, he brought up the example of Australia.

Simon Harris is rightly concerned about the current generations, who have grown up with smartphones and social media. He calls it a “time bomb” - today's children are a generation that has gained much more virtual experiences than their age, which has no small psychological impact.

A survey shows that although the age of digital consent in Ireland is 16, most popular apps are open to 13-year-olds. However, according to Cyber Safe Kids, 84 percent of 12-year-olds have social media accounts and 94 percent of children start using smartphones between the ages of 8 and 12. This situation cannot be addressed through awareness or digital education alone. Leaving the responsibility to parents or children to self-control is not working either. Technology companies must now also be held accountable. They must not only look out for profits - they must also accept responsibility for society.

However, there are various challenges in implementing this ban. Age verification technology is still not flawless, leading children to seek alternative methods, while many parents struggle to manage their children's digital usage.

Social media is no longer just about technology or entertainment; it has become a threat to cultural, moral and mental well-being. This requires not only legislation but also a concerted effort by the education system, the health sector and civil society.

Leaders like Irish Independent TD Paul Gogarty have proposed a Citizens' Convention on this issue, where ordinary people can also give their opinions. He said that this initiative is timely and very logical. Overall, it is time to take such strong and effective measures to protect the mental and social well-being of children.

There is no time to delay the issue of the safety of future generations. Strict age limits on social media must be enforced, parents must be trained carefully and technology companies must be held accountable. Considering the negative aspects of social media, Irish parents have applauded this tough decision. Source: Irish Independent