Opening Statement to the Joint Committee on Children and Equality Technology, Social Media and Children

OPENING STATEMENT

Ombudsman for Children’s Office

Joint Committee on Children and Equality

Technology, social media and children

29th January 2026

 

Chair and Members of the Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to address you today on the topic of ‘Technology, Social Media and Children’, with a focus on the safety and well-being of children online, from a child rights perspective.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office is an independent statutory body with a core mandate to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children under 18. In the digital age, this mandate is increasingly shaped by children’s experiences online – experiences that bring both significant opportunities and serious risks.

The digital environment plays a vital role in children’s education, communication, creativity, play, and participation in society. Children consistently tell us that online spaces allow them to express themselves and feel heard. However, they also tell us that these same spaces expose them to harm – including cyberbullying, grooming, hate speech, extremist content, harmful algorithms, inappropriate advertising, and growing risks linked to artificial intelligence.

Ireland has taken important steps in recent years, including the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán and the introduction of online safety codes. However, our evidence suggests that the current framework does not yet provide a clear, predictable regulatory environment that
ensures online platforms fully respect children’s rights. Too much discretion remains with companies, making effective monitoring and enforcement difficult, and leaving children inadequately protected.

Our most recent school survey found that 73% of young people believe social media companies need to be far more proactive in managing risks. Sixty-three percent encounter extremist views online – compared with just six percent in offline settings. The contrast there is stark, and the these are deeply concerning figures.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office strongly believes that all online safety policies must be rooted in children’s rights, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children’s rights apply online as they do offline. Regulation must therefore balance protection, with children’s rights to participation, privacy, access to information, education and play.

This statement has been developed by engagement with our Youth Advisory Panel, whose members consistently emphasise that education alone is not enough. Children need systemic safeguards – including safer platform design, meaningful age assurance that respects
privacy, protection from algorithms, child-friendly complaints mechanisms, and clear accountability for companies.

Children do not want to be excluded from the digital world. They want online spaces that work for them, not against them. We urge the Committee to support a Child Rights by Design approach to regulation, to strengthen children’s participation in decision-making, and to ensure that Ireland’s digital future places children’s rights, safety and wellbeing at its centre.

Thank you.

• 29 January 2026
• Type: Statement
• Topic: Online