One month ago, Australia implemented a world-first social media ban for those under the age of 16 in a bid to protect young people from harmful content.

The move sparked conversation around the world with many countries, including Ireland and other EU member states, now examining whether they should follow suit.

At the Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in Dublin (YSTE), we spoke to teenagers from around the country about their views on whether Ireland should adopt similar social media legislation.

“It probably would be a good idea, but I’m not sure how many people would be happy about it,” Ewan Coulter, aged 16, from Castletroy College in Limerick said.

“They’d probably struggle a bit at the start but after that it’d be fine, after the first few months”

16-year-old Ellen O’Shea from Ursuline College in Blackrock in Dublin thinks an all-out ban is drastic.

“Instead of banning it, there should be better mediation of it,” she explained.

“I would make some content harder to access for younger children. I believe that sometimes through media, kids can be exposed to things they don’t need to be exposed, so I do see the point in it (a ban) slightly.”

Ellen said social media has been a valuable tool for her when it comes to education and preparing for YSTE.

“Things like developing projects, schoolwork and all that, social media has really helped me, I wouldn’t be where I am today without it,” she added.

As a 15-year-old, Éabha McSorley from Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin in Cork would no longer be able to use social media if a ban came in.

“I think it would be a good idea. It could have positive benefits for people’s mental health,” she said.

But Éabha would prefer to see platforms take more action to remove harmful content altogether as “then it would be a lot safer for children and teenagers to be online in the first place”.

Explained: Australia’s social media ban for under-16s

Barry Wilmot, aged 16, from Villiers School in Limerick does not believe a ban would actually stop under-16s from accessing social media.

“I don’t think it would make much of a difference, especially if they were already using it prior to a ban, because there’s so many ways around these things,” he explained.

“I think that the amount of time it takes up from your life is a lot and there are better things you can be doing with your time, so maybe a limited use of social media or a controlled use would be better.”

Watch the video to hear from more of the pupils at YSTE