There has been no reduction in underage children’s access to social media platforms, despite legal obligations which came into effect in July 2025 designed to prevent this.
That is according to a new report from online safety charity CyberSafeKids, which found that despite new age-assurance measures, many eight to 12-year-olds still have accounts on 13+ social media apps.
The research also shows that there has been a big increase in the use of generative AI among young people.
It found that many children are continuing to encounter negative experiences online, with a significant increase in exposure to scams, bad or fake information.
The report recognises the impact of collective parent movements in delaying smartphone ownership and social media access for primary school-aged children but, according to CyberSafeKids, there is clear evidence that it is not reaching every community equally.
“The intense debate over banning under-16s from social media is missing the point,” said CyberSafeKids CEO Alex Cooney.
“We’re arguing over whether to lock the door while the laws already meant to protect children inside go unenforced.”
“We have to do better,” Ms Cooney said.
Nicola Flannery, Partner, Digital Trust & Privacy, Deloitte Ireland said the CyberSafeKids report shows that children are navigating digital environments that were never designed with their developmental needs in mind, and are still encountering harmful content at alarming rates.
“Ireland’s Online Safety Code and EU Digital Services Act have raised the floor, but this report shows us regulation alone was never going to be enough,” Ms Flannery said.
“It requires regulators to close the gaps this report identifies, the platforms to build in safety by design from the outset, schools to embed digital literacy into curricula, and parents to stay engaged.”