Ireland’s Oireachtas Committee Sets Out 45 Recommendations on Technology, Social Media and Children

The Oireachtas online safety recommendations published on 15 October 2026 by the Joint Committee on Children and Equality call for legislation that would force platforms to limit addictive design features. Consequently, the full Report on Technology, Social Media and Children contains 45 recommendations across five themes. These range from safety-by-design rules to media literacy education and stronger powers for Coimisiún na Meán.

In addition, the Committee heard evidence from young people, teachers, An Garda Síochána, Coimisiún na Meán and technology companies. As a result, its conclusions treat online harms as a public policy challenge. Therefore, coordinated action is required rather than reliance on individual parents or voluntary platform measures.

What the Oireachtas Recommendations Prioritise

For example, several recommendations stand out for their direct effect on everyday use of social media and apps. Specifically, the Committee wants legislation that operationalises safety-by-design. This would mandate approaches that limit predatory design features. Furthermore, it would embed behavioural design considerations into platforms and include features shown to reduce harm to children.

Moreover, it also calls for the disabling by default of addictive features for minors. These include infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithmic amplification of harmful content, and behavioural profiling. Likewise, a mandatory age classification system for all digital products and services is recommended. This system is modelled on existing systems for toys and films. In particular, the report prioritises blocking underage access to adult content at national level.

On age limits, the Committee welcomes the proposed EU Kids Act. It states that, at a minimum, children under 13 should not hold traditional social media accounts. However, a blanket ban alone for under-16s would be unlikely to provide a comprehensive solution. Instead, access for younger teenagers should be limited, age-appropriate, and subject to parental supervision. Consequently, autonomous accounts should only be permitted on services shown to be safe by design.

Legislation, Regulation and Regulator Powers

Overall, the legislation and regulation theme contains 18 recommendations. These include reclassifying platforms with algorithmic curation as publishers. They also include strengthening accountability for recommender systems. Furthermore, mandatory trusted third-party privacy-preserving age verification is proposed for high-risk services. These cover pornography, gambling-like features, social media, and AI chatbots. Therefore, age verification should sit alongside safety-by-design measures rather than replace them.

In addition, the Committee recommends giving Coimisiún na Meán investigative and information-gathering powers before a formal investigation opens. It also suggests aligning powers under the Online Safety Code and the Digital Services Act. Other proposals cover updating definitions of child sexual abuse material. They include supporting an EU Digital Fairness Act that prohibits manipulative dark patterns. Finally, experiences of countries that have already introduced age-based restrictions should be evaluated.

As a result, these steps would shift more responsibility onto platforms and the regulator. They address gaps that currently leave parents and schools managing risks. In fact, design choices help create those risks.

Education, Resources and Children’s Rights

Under the approaches theme, the report calls for a nuanced, child’s rights-based, evidence-informed and public health approach. This combines legislation, regulation, policy, education and enforcement. Furthermore, gendered and sexual harms, including image-based abuse, should be explicitly addressed. Coimisiún na Meán should be adequately funded and resourced. In addition, regular reviews of its capacity are also recommended.

The resources theme focuses on practical supports. Increased capacity in youth work organisations is recommended. Likewise, a dedicated funding stream for youth information services and digital literacy projects is proposed. Moreover, physical community activities and safe social spaces should be prioritised. Media literacy education should be delivered consistently. It should be integrated across the curriculum and extended to parents, caregivers and educators. Furthermore, universal access to digital literacy and digital citizenship education is proposed. Structured supports for parents and national awareness campaigns are also included.

Finally, the recommendations under the UNCRC theme state that the voices of children and young people must be heard. This applies when decisions affect their rights. Therefore, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child should be fully incorporated into domestic legislation.

Don’t Expect the Change to Happen Overnight

Even in a best-case scenario, the Oireachtas online safety recommendations will take time to deliver results. For example, some steps could begin within 12 to 18 months. Coimisiún na Meán already has powers under the Online Safety Code and the Digital Services Act. Consequently, these could support quicker action on age assurance, parental controls and certain design features.

However, primary legislation for a mandatory age classification system or new investigative powers would take longer. A government bill must still pass through the Dáil and Seanad. Even with strong political priority, this process typically takes 12 to 24 months. Furthermore, full implementation of all 45 recommendations would stretch further. Curriculum changes, funding for youth work, media literacy programmes and evaluation of age-based restrictions would realistically take three to five years. Therefore, progress depends on legislative prioritisation, budget allocations and coordination with the European Commission on the EU Kids Act.

What This Means for Irish Families and Schools

Parents already use device-level tools such as Screen Time and Family Link. However, the report makes clear that these sit alongside, rather than replace, platform-level obligations. For example, the emphasis on disabling addictive features by default aligns with practical steps many families already take. Likewise, requiring approval for age-inappropriate content also fits existing family routines. In addition, schools that deliver media literacy can expect the report to support arguments for consistent curriculum integration. Monitoring of progress comparable to other literacy skills is also supported.

Nevertheless, the recommendations do not create immediate new legal duties. They set a clear direction for government and for Coimisiún na Meán. Therefore, implementation will depend on legislation, funding decisions and continued engagement with children and young people. The Committee itself stresses this point.

For families looking for current practical guidance, CODA resources on parental controls and safety settings and early porn exposure and unsupervised internet use remain relevant while policy develops. The full report is available from the Houses of the Oireachtas.

References

• Report on Technology, Social Media and Children with a focus on the safety and well-being of children online – Joint Committee on Children and Equality, 15 October 2026
• Addictive online features should be disabled by default, report on use by children finds – The Irish Times, 15 October 2026

Related Reading

• Parental controls and safety settings
• Resources for Parents
• Ireland’s Online Safety Code – Why Age Assurance Matters
• Early Porn Exposure: What Parents Must Know

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