Ireland Survey: Building a Safer
Digital Future Together
On 14 July, ThinkYoung presented the results of its latest research on Parental Approval & Digital Experiences in Dublin, Ireland.
The event brought together parents, educators, policymakers, youth representatives, researchers and digital safety experts to discuss how we can create a safer and better digital future for young people in Ireland and beyond.
Hosted with the support of the National Parents Council, Webwise and Dublin City University, the roundtable provided a space for informed and nuanced discussion on one of today's most pressing policy debates: protecting young people online while ensuring they continue to benefit from the opportunities the digital world offers.
"Young people don't want to lose these online spaces, they want them to be safer. We need platforms to listen more to young people, improve how algorithms work, and give users greater control over what they see and experience online," says Ishani Acharya from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel.
As policymakers across Ireland and Europe continue exploring new approaches to youth digital safety, our latest survey shows that 40.50% of parents in Ireland favour parental approval for under-16s, ahead of a complete ban (34.21%) or limits (18.25%) as the preferred way to manage teenagers' access to social media and online platforms.
Parents also favour a broader approach to online safety, with 69.52% supporting measures that cover most social media, video-sharing and gaming platforms, rather than focusing on specific apps alone.
"Parents want to help their children navigate the digital world, but they also need the right support and information to do so. Organisations like the National Parents Council have an important role to play in empowering families and helping them build safer digital experiences together," says Catherine Cross from the National Parents Council.
Meanwhile, 51.84% believe under 16 is the appropriate age for app approval, reinforcing the need for solutions that give parents a greater role in supporting their teenagers online.
Conducted in Ireland and across Europe, this survey seeks to inform public debate through nuanced, evidence-based insights that reflect the experiences of parents and guardians across the continent.
Across the findings, one message remains consistent: parents want to be in the driving seat when it comes to their teenagers' digital safety and wellbeing.
Read the full results here and explore more findings in our Survey section.
“Creating safer online spaces isn't about limiting opportunities for young people. It's about listening to their experiences and designing digital environments that protect them while allowing them to benefit from everything the online world has to offer.” says Isabel Machado Da Silva, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Doctoral Candidate at Dublin City University.
“The challenge is how we prevent harm without limiting access. Young people should be able to enjoy the opportunities the online world offers while feeling confident they're protected from abuse, misinformation and other online harms.” says Ross Murphy from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel.
About the survey
The survey was conducted by ThinkYoung in 2026 using an online questionnaire distributed via polling software. It was funded by Meta. The study explores parental perspectives on app use, screen time, social media safety and age-appropriate digital experiences. A total of 1,116 parents participated in the survey in Ireland between 22 May and 15 June 2026.
This research is part of a multi-year collaboration between ThinkYoung and Meta, enabling and supporting a network of researchers, academics, parents, teenagers and creators working together to build a better and safer digital future for young people.
ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit organisation, aiming to make the world a better place for young people by involving them in decision-making processes and providing decision-makers with high-quality research on youth conditions. ThinkYoung conducts studies and surveys, makes advocacy campaigns, writes policy proposals, and develops education programmes: up to date, ThinkYoung projects have reached over 800,000 young people.
Meta is a tech company with apps that you may know, like Instagram or WhatsApp. We work hard to build online spaces where young people can learn, connect, create, and have fun. We want young people to enjoy our platforms and to be safe, so creating spaces for young people to have their say on the future of platforms like ours is crucial.
