Independent Galway West councillor Noel Thomas has today called on the Government to launch a full national review into adopting legislation similar to Australia’s newly announced ban on social media access for children under 16.
Australia’s Federal Government has introduced the Online Safety (Age Assurance ) Bill 2025, which will:
• Prohibit under-16s from accessing social media unless the platform can verify their age;
• Require platforms to use approved age-verification tools, including facial age-estimation and digital ID checks;
• Establish a strengthened national regulator with powers to audit platforms, issue takedown notices and impose significant fines;
• Review whether 16–17-year-olds should require parental consent;
• Introduce a legally binding Age Assurance Code for all platforms.
Noel Thomas said the Australian model shows what is possible when a government decides to take children’s online safety seriously.
“Parents in Ireland are fighting a losing battle against platforms designed to keep children hooked. Australia has produced detailed, workable legislation showing how to protect young people online. Ireland now needs to examine doing the same.”
He emphasised that his proposal is not anti-technology, but about child protection.
“This is no different to age limits on alcohol, gambling or vaping,” he said. “Social media exposes children to bullying, harmful content and addictive algorithms. We cannot keep leaving young people unprotected in an online world that was never designed for them.”
He is calling on the Government to initiate:
• A national consultation with parents, schools and youth mental health experts;
• A review of age-verification systems used in other countries;
• Legislation that would place the burden of proof on platforms, not parents.
“Ireland should be a leader in online child safety. The Australian legislation gives us a roadmap. Now the Government must decide if it is prepared to act.”
