Will tech giants finally take online safety for children seriously?

The second part of Coimisiún na Mean’s online safety code has come into force

Part B of the nascent code means that the video-sharing platforms under its remit that allow pornography, like X, must use effective age-assurance controls to make sure children cannot watch it. File picture

The wild west of social media self-regulation has come to an end, but the battles that will define this new era have only just begun after a very busy week in this hotly contested space.

Last Monday, the second part of Ireland’s regulator Coimisiún na Mean’s Online Safety Code came into force. It came after a nine-month lead in time for companies to prepare its systems for the code aimed at keeping people, particularly children, safe online.