The Last Word with Matt Cooper Should Ireland Ban Under-16s From Social Media?
Dec 4, 2025
Join Alex Cooney, Chief Executive of CyberSafeKids, and Professor Matthew Sadlier, a leading psychiatrist focusing on youth mental health, as they explore the implications of banning social media for under-16s in Ireland. They discuss the flaws in current platform safety measures and outline urgent mental health risks tied to excessive screen time, including anxiety and depression. Both advocates suggest that stronger regulations and parental guidance are crucial for creating a safer online environment for children. It's a vital conversation about the digital future!
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Policy Alone Won’t Fix Unsafe Platforms
- Australia’s ban is a bold first step but won’t fix unsafe platform design or all risky online spaces.
- Alex Cooney says platforms must be made safe by design and age-gated comprehensively.
Limit Daily Screen Time
- Reduce children’s screen time because higher use correlates with more harms like anxiety and depression.
- Professor Matthew Sadlier cites WHO guidance of two hours daily as a safe limit for ages five to 16.
Rising Mental-Health Referrals
- Excessive social media exposure links to a range of mental-health issues and rising referrals.
- Matthew Sadlier reports increases in anxiety, depression and eating-disorder presentations among youth.