Micheál Martin stops short of backing under-16 social media ban

The Taoiseach said Ireland would monitor Australia’s under-16 ban as pressure grows following EU findings against TikTok

Micheál Martin said his understanding was that many platforms are now disabling access for children and young people. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has declined to immediately back calls for a social media ban on under-16s, saying the Government intends to review how a similar ban unfolds in Australia.

Mr Martin was speaking to the Irish Examiner on Saturday after the European Commission accused TikTok of using addictive features such as “infinite scrolling” and push notifications to keep users engaged for hours.

On Friday, the commission made a preliminary finding that TikTok, which has its European headquarters in Dublin, breached the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates harmful features on major social media platforms.

Last December, Australia became the first country to introduce a ban on under-16s using social media platforms, and Tánaiste Simon Harris has called for Ireland to follow suit, saying there needed to be a “baring of teeth” and enforcement of the age of digital consent.

Ireland’s Data Protection Act 2018 sets the age of digital consent at 16.

Last week, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez said his government would introduce a similar ban, and Spain has joined Denmark, Greece, and France in leading a push for EU-wide legislation.

Asked whether the European Commission’s finding against TikTok strengthened the case for a social media ban for under-16s, the Taoiseach said his Government is monitoring the situation.

“The first thing is that the conclusions of the European Commission are very serious, these are interim conclusions, so the investigation continues,” Mr Martin said.

“The European Commission has spoken to multiple experts, and they’ve had access to all the documentation that TikTok has and their systems, and that whole area of infinite scrolling and the absence of controls in the evening time for children and young people.

“I think there is a need for stronger regulation in respect of protecting children and young people.

“We keep everything under review in terms of a ban, it’s happening in Australia, so we’ll see how that is manifesting itself.” 

Mr Martin said his understanding was that many platforms are now disabling access for children and young people, and said communications minister Patrick O’Donovan plans to bring forward proposals on age verification in the coming weeks.

He cited last year’s €9m school phone pouch and storage solutions scheme as a Government measure that proved effective.

“We took a step last year which we got criticised for in respect of pouches in the primary schools and all the opposition attacked us, Sinn Féin, the left, and everyone, because we were spending too much money,” Mr Martin said.

“That was a great move. We put pouches into primary schools, we have effectively banned smartphones in primary schools, particularly during the school day.

“What’s interesting, and sad in a way, is that many teachers have said for the first time a long time they’ve heard children talking in the corridors, and they've heard noise. In our day, you’d have screaming and shouting in the corridors and teachers telling fellas to keep quiet.” 

The Taoiseach added that the Government’s priority was safeguarding children.

Asked whether he would back the Tánaiste’s call for a social media ban on under-16s, Mr Martin again declined to commit to a ban.

“We’ll have to see how it works out first, we’re going to examine what’s happening in Australia,” he said.