Tánaiste Simon Harris is pushing forward with plans to restrict social media access for those under 16, despite pushback from an Oireachtas committee.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said he will not change his mind on banning social media for under 16s , despite a group of TDs and senators warning against it.. A report published this week by the Oireachtas Media Committee recommended against such a strict ban , with chairman Alan Kelly TD saying it wouldn’t be effective as it would be evaded “fairly quickly”.. But the Tánaiste rubbished this sentiment, saying a teenager might find a way
around buying alcohol, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.. He told the A Little Bird Told Me podcast: “It is driving me crazy when I hear people saying things that don’t make sense like ‘Don’t be stupid, a ban won’t work, people will find out ways around it’.. A 16-year-old might find a way to buy a gin and tonic but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.. It’s not about nanny state-ism and it’s not even
really about enforcement.. “We have got to decide as a society, some people agree with me and some people fundamentally disagree with me.. I believe we should be saying that there is an age before which we shouldn’t be on social media and I think it should be 16.” Mr Kelly, a Labour TD, said no expert witnesses spoken to as part of the report suggested that such a restriction would be useful.. This includes
groups such as CyberSafeKids and the Children’s Rights Alliance, who don’t believe a ban would stop under 16s from accessing social media.. Instead, the committee wants more action on making social media platforms less addictive and harmful to children.. This would include requiring tech giants to turn off their recommender algorithms and ban notifications which contribute to addiction and that “pull users back”.. However, the committee chairman said he was “not going to get into
challenging the Government” on the proposals and that they “will do what they see fit”.. Mr Harris said if he had his way a law banning social media for under 16s would be implemented immediately.. He added: “I don’t care how it happens, if the companies say we are going to get with the program here and regulate.. I have said it to companies ‘I don’t care if you guys do it your way’, but
the policy aim has to be clear, that would be the easiest way.. “They have the technology they could do it tomorrow, but they’re choosing not to.. We could pass a law for age restriction but what you do need is age verification.. So there is a piece of work going on for age verification.” Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan previously said that he believes social media should be banned for under 16s at an EU
level, and if this isn’t achieved he will seek Government approval to take action at a national level.. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
social media ban, Simon Harris, under 16s, Oireachtas Media Committee, age verification, digital regulation, Irish politics