Social media ban for under-16s could push young people to less regulated sites, Oireachtas committee hears

"Tánaiste Simon Harris has recently called for an age restriction on social media use while Spain has become the latest country to consider following Australia in implementing a ban. But a number of experts have pushed back against a similar move, describing it as a "blunt instrument" that does not protect children from harms on the "thousands" of sites that could fall outside a ban."

"Senior clinical psychologist Dr Mark Smyth said many young people also experience connection online, and "don't want to be seen as lonely". "Why do children keep going back to these websites even when they experience harm? It's because they also experience connection and what they would rather do is have some connection - even if it's marginally harmful - than risk being lonely.""

"The ban covers the top 10 most commonly accessed platforms, which resulted in "thousands" of other, less regulated sites falling outside the ban. "We have to make sure that in thinking about the big sites that we don't cause the law of unintended harms, where we push them onto sites that are less regulated, less moderated but yet still cause harm.""

Tánaiste Simon Harris has called for an age restriction on social media while Spain is considering a ban similar to Australia’s. Several experts warned that age-based bans are a blunt instrument and could leave thousands of smaller sites outside regulation. The Psychological Society of Ireland cautioned that overly restrictive regulation may push vulnerable youth to less visible, less regulated online spaces. Dr Mark Smyth noted young people seek connection online and often prefer marginally harmful interactions to loneliness. The Australian ban on platforms for under-16s covers the top ten sites, illustrating the risk of unintended harms and displacement to riskier platforms. Mainstream platforms retain some parental controls and safety features.

Read at Irish Independent