Committee publishes report on children and online safety
The Joint Committee on Children and Equality has released a comprehensive report addressing the risks children face on digital platforms. It focuses on enhancing protections and promoting media literacy to safeguard young users across Ireland.
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Oireachtas - Press Releases
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The Joint Committee on Children and Equality has published a detailed report examining the impact of technology and social media on the safety and well-being of children. The report highlights the importance of engaging directly with young people to ensure policies reflect their lived experiences and rights, in line with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Deputy Keira Keogh, Committee Cathaoirleach, emphasised the growing challenges posed by online environments, noting the balance between the benefits of digital connectivity and the potential harms encountered by children. The Committee explored the 5Cs Framework of Online Harms—content, contact, conduct, contract, and cross-cutting harms—to understand the complexity of risks faced by young users today.
Key recommendations include the introduction of legislation mandating safety-by-design principles to reduce predatory and harmful platform features, disabling addictive functions for minors by default, and establishing a mandatory age classification system for digital products. The report also calls for enhanced media literacy education integrated throughout school curricula and accessible support for parents, caregivers, and educators to foster responsible digital habits among children and young people. The Committee comprises 14 members from both the Dáil and Seanad, and its proceedings are accessible via the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App for Apple and Android devices.
Deputy Keira Keogh, Committee Cathaoirleach, emphasised the growing challenges posed by online environments, noting the balance between the benefits of digital connectivity and the potential harms encountered by children. The Committee explored the 5Cs Framework of Online Harms—content, contact, conduct, contract, and cross-cutting harms—to understand the complexity of risks faced by young users today.
Key recommendations include the introduction of legislation mandating safety-by-design principles to reduce predatory and harmful platform features, disabling addictive functions for minors by default, and establishing a mandatory age classification system for digital products. The report also calls for enhanced media literacy education integrated throughout school curricula and accessible support for parents, caregivers, and educators to foster responsible digital habits among children and young people. The Committee comprises 14 members from both the Dáil and Seanad, and its proceedings are accessible via the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App for Apple and Android devices.
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