An Cathaoirleach: Everybody is very welcome this morning. Today we are resuming our discussion on technology, social media and children. We have been talking about this topic for a while. We are really excited that today the committee will have its first engagement with young people. We are joined from the National Youth Council of Ireland by Róisín O'Neill and Oisín Ó Dubhshláine, members of its youth advisory group, and Niamh Flynn, youth 2030 capacity development and training officer; from Youth Work Ireland by Aisling Maloney and Franek Dobronski; from Webwise by Orla Hanratty and Sarah Davitt, members of its youth advisory panel, and Jane McGarrigle, national co-ordinator; and from the Office of the Ombudsman for Children by Emilia de Búrca, member of its youth advisory panel. They are accompanied by Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, who is no stranger to this committee. Shakar Ali, from the Ombudsman for Children's Office youth advisory panel has been delayed but will join us later. They are all very welcome.

Technology, social media and children is a really important topic and we have been focusing on the safety and well-being of children online. Over recent months the committee has had a number of meetings on this topic with stakeholders, departmental officials etc. Today we will hear from the most important people, the people who are actually affected by this topic. We are really delighted to have them here. It is an honour and a privilege to have children and young people appearing before the committee this morning. I assure all those present that the members of this committee take very seriously the provisions under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly in relation to engagement with children and ensuring their right to be heard and their involvement in decision making which may have an impact on their lives...

...Mr. Shakar Ali: I thank the Chairperson and the committee for inviting the Ombudsman for Children's office, OCO, here today to discuss the topic technology, social media and children, with a focus on the safety and well-being of children online. We are here today on behalf of the OCO youth advisory panel. Our youth advisory panel, YAP, is made up of young people, aged 13 to 17, from all parts of Ireland and our role is to make sure that children's voices are at the heart of the OCO's work to promote and protect children's rights.

Over the past 12 months, children's rights in the online world have been a major focus of the YAP's work. Our 2025 reports, One Size Does Not Fit All and AI and Us, highlighted the panel's views on the impact of smartphone bans and AI on children's rights. In our view, the online world offers a lot of potential for children to enjoy their rights. However, for that to happen, more must be done by those in power to ensure that it is a safe and inclusive space for every child and young person.

For many YAP members, the main benefit of the online world and social media is its power to connect young people and allow them to express themselves freely. Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees our right to form connections and engage with other young people who share our passions and interests. Today, this right is just as relevant for young people online as it is offline. In fact, due to the shortage of free, accessible physical spaces where teenagers can socialise, be creative and explore their interests outside of school hours, the online world has to fill a gap. For many, it is a space of connection and exploration, particularly for young people who are marginalised.

However, young people want action taken in order that they can feel safe in the online world. One area we particularly wish to bring to the committee's attention is the harmful impact of misinformation. Regular exposure to misinformation online violates our right under the UNCRC to receive information that supports our development and well-being. While the Internet and social media give us immediate access to a vast source of knowledge, children and young people are too easily targeted with misleading or inaccurate information. YAP members have expressed particular concern about misinformation around healthcare, dieting advice, harmful lifestyle trends and far-right, discriminatory content. This kind of material often tries to polarise young people and stir up feelings of anger, which can be damaging for our health and well-being. In an OCO survey published last year on extremism and discrimination, 63% of young people said they came across views they would consider extreme online, compared to just 6% in real life. This can lead to young people forming discriminatory attitudes and possibly placing their rights, and the rights of others, at risk.

We have serious concerns about how algorithms use our personal data to target us with this type of harmful content, undermining our right to privacy. Additionally, these systems are designed to target young people with material that will keep them engaged for as long as possible. As members will be aware, a recent court case in the US found that two tech giants were liable for designing addictive platforms. Spending excessive time on social media, especially when engaging with harmful content, can have a damaging impact on young people's mental health and potentially lead to addictive behaviours, undermining our right to health....

[Click here to read the full debate on the Oireachtas website]

[See also, subsequent debates on this issue:

Joint Committee on Children and Equality debate. Safety and Well-being of Children Online: Discussion (Resumed) - 30 April 2026.

Joint Committee on Children and Equality debate. Safety and Well-being of Children Online: Discussion (Resumed) - 7 May 2026.