WEALTH June 18, 2026 0 Comments

Ireland’s Hidden Social Media Crackdown: Why Over Half of Adults Demand an Under-16 Ban—And What It Means for Your Next Move

You know, when I see that nearly three-quarters of Irish adults are backing a ban on social media for kids under 16, my first thought is: are we finally ready to hit the pause button on digital chaos for our little ones? It’s no small matter — Pure Telecom’s latest research reveals some pretty striking numbers, with 78% of men and 69% of women nodding “yes” to the idea. Parents of young children, especially those aged six to eight, are practically unanimous, with 88% in full support. But here’s the kicker — half of folks doubt how realistic it is to enforce such a ban. Makes you wonder: Can legislation keep pace with the rapid-fire world of apps and devices, or do we need a smarter approach, maybe one with heavy doses of education and accountability? There’s a tug-of-war here — parents grappling with responsibility, calls for government intervention, and a demand for social media companies to step up and protect young users legally. And just when you think it’s all black and white, almost half the adults admit social media isn’t all bad — it can actually be a positive outlet. Maybe it’s less about bans and more about teaching kids to navigate the digital landscape safely — something 58% think schools need to take seriously. This isn’t just a debate; it’s a societal crossroad demanding a combined effort from governments, teachers, parents, and yes, even the kids themselves. When Paul Connell, CEO of Pure Telecom, lays it out like that, you can’t help but think: the solution isn’t a hammer, it’s a handshake that brings everyone to the table. LEARN MORE

Three-quarters (74%) of Irish adults are in favour of a social media ban for under-16s similar to the one announced by the UK government.

Research from Pure Telecom, conducted by Censuswide, found that, at 78%, men are more likely than women (69%) to favour a ban.

Furthermore, support rises to 80% among parents of children aged 16 and under and to 88% among parents of six-to-eight-year-olds, highlighting the depth of concern about how social media is affecting young children.

However, there are widespread doubts about the plausibility of any such move, with half (50%) of the 1,000 respondents believing it would be impossible to enforce any social media ban for under-16s.

Nearly a third (31%) believe responsibility for children’s social media usage ultimately lies with the parents rather than the government, although 39% believe parents need government intervention to help keep children safe.

The majority of adults also believe that social media companies themselves should bear more responsibility. Some 57% say they should be legally responsible for protecting children online.

Despite the widespread support for a social media ban for under-16s, 43% of adults admit that they think social media can be a positive outlet for some children, and many believe that education must be a part of the solution.

The majority (58%) believe schools should be teaching children how to use social media safely, if they are not already doing so, while 44% believe digital literacy would be more effective than a blanket ban.

“Our research shows that this is a topic that adults in Ireland care deeply about, but there are mixed opinions on whether an outright ban can be effective, or if it is enough on its own,” said Paul Connell, CEO of Paul Telecom.

social media ban — Paul Connell, CEO of Pure Telecom.

“For example, 18- to 24-year-olds are the least likely age group to support a ban, but the most likely to advocate for social media safety to be taught in schools.

Older adults, meanwhile, are more likely to support a ban and less likely to call for schools to be involved.

“Regardless of people individually, our research shows that a whole-society approach – which includes Government, teachers, parents and children – is the one that is preferred by the large majority.”

(Pic: Getty Images)