Following recent legislative developments in Australia, which introduced a ban on social media access for users under the age of sixteen from December 2025, Ireland (as well as other European Union Member States) may be considering similar legislation in 2026.
Reports indicate that the Irish Government departments are assessing comparable measures, with a memo on digital age of consent and age verification expected to be brought to the Government before Christmas by the Minister for Media, Patrick O’Donovan.
This coincides with Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, recently signing a memorandum of understanding with the Australian eSafety Commissioner to support cooperation between the regulators and the development of common policy approaches.
Additionally, the European Parliament has approved a proposal setting sixteen as the default minimum age for accessing social media, with parental approval permitted for children aged thirteen to fifteen. Users under the age of thirteen are prohibited entirely. While the proposal has no binding legal effect, it highlights a clear regulatory intention to strengthen protections for children online.
Organisations operating online social platforms or providing services in this sector should monitor these developments and prepare for potential compliance obligations.
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If you would like to discuss these developments, or any other related matter concerning your business, please do not hesitate to contact any member of our Technology and Innovation Group, or your usual Matheson contact.