Better Digital Parenting 2024 CyberSafeKids - Manual / Resource - Page 10
B e tte r D i g i t al Paren ting
C y b e r Sa fe K i d s
Getting the Basics Right:
Understanding Age Restrictions
Did you know? The General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR) requires an age of
digital consent.
In Ireland, the legal digital age of consent
is 16. For data collection, teenagers
between the ages of 13 and 16 years old
must have parental permission to sign up
to social media services.
Most social media platforms and services
have a minimum age requirement of 13 years
old (others may be set at 16 e.g. WhatsApp).
Children under the age of 13 should not
have their own social media accounts.
However most social media platforms do
not have robust age-verifications in place
making it easier for underage users to sign
up, and research bears out the fact that
84% of 8-12 year olds already have their
own social media accounts.*
Sometimes app stores (Apple/Google Play)
have their own age rating systems, so it is
better to follow standardised guidelines
and ratings.
Use www.commonsensemedia.org or
pegi.info for a comprehensive list of age
requirements for social media platforms
and games.
*Keeping Kids Safer Online: Online Safety Matters, Trends and Usage Report, CyberSafeKids (Academic Year 2022/2023)
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