Would an Australian-style youth social media ban work here?
Australia’s world-first ban on social media use by under-16s has taken effect, forcing platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook to block underage users or face fines of up to €28 million. From Dublin to Brussels, policymakers are watching closely. The question in Ireland is not only whether such a ban could work here, but whether it should—legally, practically and politically—within the European framework. In Ireland, the immediate answer from government is cautious distance. Communications Minister…