Social Media

125. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the position regarding any engagement he has had with his EU counterparts to push for an EU-wide ban on social media use for under-16s. [73604/26]

As a parent, as a TD and as a member of the committee on children, I have yet to meet someone who is not deeply concerned about the impact of social media on our children. That is why the proposed EU Kids Act is so very welcome. The Minister of State might please update us as to the timeline for implementation and the role Ireland is playing in ensuring these much-needed protections are implemented.

I thank Deputy Boland for her interest in and advocacy on this issue. The Government supports an EU-wide approach to age restrictions, as the Deputy knows, for access to social media as part of a wider process of improving online safety on an ongoing basis. In September, Ireland hosted a high-level EU Presidency conference on the subject, bringing colleagues from across Europe together. Issues, including potential age restrictions, were considered during the conference itself and at a ministerial dinner held alongside the conference. Since then, the European Commission has published a proposal for a new EU Kids Act. This is designed to strengthen protection of children online across the EU. It includes proposals for new age thresholds to access social media and video sharing platforms. The proposal takes a graduated approach. Children under the age of 13 would not be able to have accounts for social media or video sharing platforms. They would be able, through their parents' account, to view video platforms that are designed for young children. For children aged between 13 and 15, a parent or guardian could set up a limited account with parental controls, time limits and restrictions on contacts. Young people aged over 15 could open their own accounts, but the services must be designed to be safe for them. My Department will open a public consultation on the proposal, and the outcome of that will inform the national position on these provisions and the other measures in the proposal. In the meantime, as the protection of children and young people online is a key theme of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU, as the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, has given and will give priority to the negotiations on the Kids Act, and those discussions are progressing.

I appreciate the Minister of State's response. However, we are aware of the impact on children and teenagers now and the impact on their confidence and their mental health and the addictive nature of social media. We really need to see this regulation implemented as swiftly as possible. There are organisations right across this country, including Turning Tides in my area in Skerries and It Takes a Village in Greystones, that are coming together because they are lacking the national and European leadership. They are doing everything they can to try to delay smartphone usage. However, it is very difficult for parents when we are going up against the might of tech companies. I think we all have to accept that there really needs to be national and European regulation on this to make sure the tech companies are implementing safety by design.

I thank Deputy Boland. I think both of us would agree that this is one of the challenges of our time and it is really important that we respond appropriately to that. The challenge is urgent, as the Deputy said. As she knows, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, recognised that and did make this the key issue for the Irish Presidency as part of the communications brief at European level, recognising the fact that it is more appropriate and much stronger if we can act at European level. That approach has borne fruit in relation to the EU Kids Act. It is important now that we move forward collectively at European level to see that progress. As the Deputy said, it is urgent. One of the steps we also took was what the Minister, Deputy Foley, did in the budget before last in relation to allocating funding for smartphone pouches to go into schools across the country. That has been an immense success in those schools it has been delivered in, and it has been very much welcomed by the students in those schools. Again, that shows the thirst that is out there for good management of what is a real challenge.

I agree; it was fantastic to see the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, put such a focus on this. I think it really did influence the bringing forward of the EU Kids Act proposal. I would like to see the Minister of State and his Department really using Ireland’s position now to make sure there is a timetable set out for the implementation of this regulation. This is urgent. We need to see Government and Europe act swiftly. It was very welcome to see the proposals, but we now also need to see very swift and urgent action and for Ireland to use its leadership role at the EU Presidency level to make sure that happens.

The Commission published its proposal on 17 September. Ireland’s Presidency of the EU has given priority now to the negotiations in Council, so those are already under way. It is too early to predict when those discussions and negotiations with the European Parliament will conclude, but once the measure is adopted and enforced, most of its provisions are due to take effect within six months of that date. I absolutely concur with the Deputy. It is important we now push on. I recognise the initiative of President von der Leyen at European level in terms of grabbing this and recognising the importance of it. It is important across Europe that it is robust and effective. It is really important that we see it be effective first within our country and that is going to be our objective, certainly, from a Presidency point of view. It is certainly the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan’s, priority to make sure this pushes on now and remains at the forefront of our Presidency, and that progress is made in a significant way and that continues into the Lithuanian Presidency afterwards.