Snapchat 'like a haven for paedophiles': Tusla developing social media policy for children in care

The Child Law Project quotes a judge who said Tusla 'should be leading the way in child protection for younger children'. Picture: iStock

Tusla is developing a social media policy for children in care to be introduced in the new year, after criticisms from a judge.

At present, Tusla does not have a social media policy in place.

In the latest tranche of reports on child care proceedings from the Child Law Project published this week, a judge overseeing one case highlighted concerns at Tusla’s “lack of a policy on mobile phone use by children in care”.

The report said: “The judge said the CFA [Child and Family Agency] should be leading the way in child protection for younger children and implement a policy, not merely as part of or in response to an audit.” 

'A haven for paedophiles'

It added:  He referred to a recent criminal case in which an accused had described Snapchat as ‘like a haven for paedophiles’. 

In another case in the tranche from the Child Law Project, a social worker in the case of a teenage boy told a court that “material related to the consumption and sale of drugs was found on the child’s phone”.

At the time of the court hearing, the child did not have a phone.

A solicitor for a relative asked if Tusla would consider providing the child with a phone without internet access.

The report on the hearing said: “The social worker said the CFA could look into this, but significant supervision would be required.”

Meanwhile, a case involving a teenage girl who absconded from State care had turned off her mobile phone to disable her location.

The report on her case said “she was still able to access her social media accounts on other devices”.

In response to a query from the Irish Examiner in relation to mobile phone access for children in care, a spokesman for Tusla said: “The use of social media for children and young people is growing concern for many parents across the country.

“We are currently developing a social media policy for children in care, considering the current online landscape and need for safe use of platforms.”

A source said it is expected that the policy will be introduced in early 2027.