The report also found that parents and caregivers were more likely to agree (43 per cent) than disagree (23 per cent) that a ban wouldn’t be effective as children would circumvent it. When children were asked the same question, the majority agreed that a social media ban wouldn’t work because children would find a way to get around it.

Online Safety and Children’s Digital Lives is the Irish country research report compiled by Coimisiún na Meán which examines two national surveys, one of children and the other of their parents/caregivers and is part of the wider EU Kids Online survey published this week.

The EU Kids Online study is part of the “Global Kids Online Study”, which comprises of a global survey, and an international network of academics, social researchers and experts dedicated to studying children’s rights, risks and opportunities in the digital age.

Speaking about the report, Jeremy Godfrey, executive chairperson at Coimisiún na Meán said: “This report provides important evidence on how children and young people in Ireland feel about their experiences of the internet. Crucially, this study allowed us to hear directly from children and young people and their parents/caregivers about their experiences and attitudes. The findings in this research will support evidence-based policy development, programme design and decision-making that deliver positive outcomes for children and young people.

 “Coimisiún na Meán is proud to be part of the EU Kids Online study, enabling comparison of the online experiences of children and young people in Ireland with those of children and young people in over 20 countries across Europe.

 “We all agree that children deserve a safe online environment that supports their development in a variety of ways, in line with their age and evolving capacities. Our participation in the study is a clear demonstration of our commitment to ensure that audiences, especially children, can benefit from the positive aspects of media, while also being protected from potential harms.”