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\n Published:
\n Mon 15 Jun 2026, 5:27 PM\n <\/p>\n
The UK Government\u2019s plan to introduce a ban on social media for those under the age of 16 is a significant intervention to protect young people, that Ireland should monitor closely, a Fine Gael TD has said.<\/p>\n
Deputy Keira Keogh, Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Children said: \u201cIreland should monitor closely and assess how the policy develops and evaluate its implementation and impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
She has raised the issue of proper protections for children online for some time and has highlighted the growing momentum in countries to introduce stronger regulation of online platforms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be watching closely to see how these measures are implemented and whether they achieve their intended outcomes.<\/p>\n
We must also examine whether the UK experiences better results than Australia, which has already moved down a similar path.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the UK Government\u2019s decision to focus on AI-powered sexual and romantic chatbots is an area which policy makers are right to be concerned about.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren should not be interacting with AI systems that can generate sexualised content, encourage unhealthy emotional dependency or blur the boundaries between human and artificial relationships. Strong safeguards are needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy Keogh stressed that the Irish Government must use its upcoming European Presidency to examine a ban on access and to have platforms prove they are building in safety by design to their digital platforms from the outset.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur policy should be evidence-led. If the UK model proves successful, we should be prepared to learn from it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy Keogh added that In Fine Gael\u2019s Online Safety Survey, parents expressed strong support for the introduction of age verification measures.<\/p>\n
\u201cAge verification is just one part of a much broader, more holistic approach. Alongside it, we need to continue empowering children through digital literacy, giving them the tools to navigate online spaces safely and confidently.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Published:
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