- The majority of parents (85%) support a ban on social media for children under 16 in Ireland with 57% of those strongly supporting the ban.
- 2 in 3 (66%) of parents are aware that the Irish Government has said it will introduce a ban on social media for under-16s if EU-wide agreement isn’t reached.
- More than 1 in 3 (39%) trust parents themselves most at protecting children from social media, 13% trust the social media platforms most, and 7% trust government/ regulators most.
- 1 in 2 (51%) parents believe that the school ban/ restrictions have improved their child’s wellbeing, focus, or social interactions at school. Of these, 26% have seen a noticeable difference.
- When thinking about their child under 16, 32% think they would support the ban on social media with 18% of these thinking they’d strongly support it.
- In their view, 31% of parents think their child would describe their own relationship with social media as somewhat excessive but manageable and 25% think it’s healthy or not a problem.
- 32% of parents say they have discussed the proposed ban with their child with 9% of these saying they have discussed it in detail.
- 70% of parents feel that social media and screen use causes tension in their household with 14% of these feeling it causes a lot of tension.
- 62% of parents say they would feel a relief if a ban removed the responsibility of policing their child’s social media use themselves with 28% saying they’d feel a big relief.
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About iReach Insights
iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 9th and 16th of July and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.
Questions asked of adults nationwide:
Q1. Are you aware that the Irish Government has said it will introduce a ban on social media for under-16s if EU-wide agreement isn’t reached?
Q2. To what extent do you support or oppose a ban on social media for children under 16 in Ireland?
Q3. Which of the following best reflects your view? Please select one answer.
Q4. Who do you trust most to protect children from social media harms?
Q5. Do you believe the school phone ban/restrictions have improved your child’s wellbeing, focus, or social interaction at school?
Q6. Thinking about your child (or if multiple, your eldest child under 16) — do you believe they would support or oppose a ban on social media for under-16s?
Q7. Have you actually discussed the proposed ban with your child?
Q8. In your view, how would your child describe their own relationship with social media?
Q9. How much tension or conflict does social media/screen use cause in your household?
Q10. Would you personally feel relief if a ban removed the responsibility of policing your child’s social media use yourself?
iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.
iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: oisin.byrne@ireachhq.com or phone 086 8506364