The Tánaiste has said that an update on whether a ban on social media for under-16s is feasible is expected to come before Cabinet next week.
EU countries are currently assessing potential limits on young people’s access to social media platforms, reports Breaking News.
Simon Harris has previously voiced support for examining such a restriction as a child-protection measure, with the Department of Communications understood to favour an EU-wide plan rather than Ireland acting independently.
The Tánaiste said the Minister for Communications will brief the Government “in the time ahead” on what is “possible under European legislation”, with a Cabinet update anticipated next week, reports Breaking News.
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Speaking on Friday, Mr Harris said: “The Government has obligations when it comes to child protection, and there are real concerns from parents in Ireland – and not just in Ireland – about child safety on the internet. Now, companies will have their own various policies in relation to this, but I do think we live in a country where there’s a digital age of consent, and that should matter. And my views in relation to this are well known. I’m very supportive of the idea of social media being restricted to people above a certain a certain age. I think that would be a significant support to parents. I think it would be a significant support in relation to child protection,” reports Breaking News.
Mr Harris added: “From the companies’ perspectives, I would say this: the key to any business model is having certainty, is having clarity, and then having stability. Obviously, Ireland will be governed in many ways by some of the EU legislation in this space too and the infrastructure that that provides,” reports Breaking News.
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