Attempts to ban social media access for under-16s in Ireland and across the EU are a “distraction” from the deeper need to “stand up” to tech companies over their algorithms, it has been claimed.
Opposition TDs outlined the view on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics programme, saying they believe the proposed ban is unlikely to work and the Government should instead be examining how to address the “wild west” of loose regulation of the sector.
Asked about the potential move, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said while a ban would be welcome, there is a bigger issue over the fact “Ireland has a role here” in terms of “regulating” the sector.
He said that while 10 years ago many of the “harmful comments” online were addressed, he now believes social media has become “the absolute wild west”, in part, he said, due to loose regulation of tech giants whose EU headquarters are in Ireland.
Speaking on the same programme, Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly said in response to the social media age ban suggestions that “I don’t think it works”, citing evidence of the early difficulties of addressing the situation in Australia where a ban has recently been introduced.
Deputy O’Reilly said “it serves as nothing more than a distraction from algorithms”, saying people “are getting misinformation and disinformation” online and that “there’s no age limit on that”.
“What we need to see is Government facing down the algorithms,” she said.
Responding to the remarks, Minister of State and Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said it is wrong to say so far that a ban would not work due to initial evidence in Australia that children and teens are still accessing social media, saying “under-16s who want to buy alcohol or cigarettes will find workarounds as well”.
He said a social media age ban is being considered, and that discussions about the possibility of this happening and how it would work are continuing to take place in Ireland and the EU.