IrelandA new report by the Irish online safety charity CyberSafeKids reveals that despite legal measures implemented in July 2025 aimed at preventing underage access to social media, many children aged 8 to 12 still have accounts on 13+ platforms. The report highlights increased use of generative AI by young users and rising exposure to scams and misinformation. While some parental efforts have delayed smartphone and social media access for younger children, these initiatives are not uniformly effective across all communities. CyberSafeKids CEO Alex Cooney argues that focusing solely on banning under-16s misses the core issue of enforcing existing protections. Deloitte Ireland's Nicola Flannery emphasizes that regulatory frameworks like Ireland’s Online Safety Code and the EU Digital Services Act are necessary but insufficient, requiring additional actions from regulators, platform designers, educators, and parents.
Bias read (Center): The article presents findings from a report by CyberSafeKids and includes quotes from both the organization's CEO and a representative from Deloitte Ireland. It does not exhibit overtly biased language or selective sourcing. The framing remains neutral, emphasizing the need for multi-stakeholder and
