A State age verification system for social media and other websites is an “important first step”, the Tánaiste has said as he argued the protection of children cannot be left to the companies themselves. The Government is preparing a system where age verification for certain websites will be checked against an individual’s Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). On Safer Internet Day, Simon Harris said there was significant evidence around social media algorithms affecting children through addiction and “doomscrolling”. He said: “You can’t have a minimum age if you can’t verify age, and I don’t think we can leave it to the social media companies or outsource to tech companies the protection of our children. “So bringing in a State age verification system is an important first step, and then we’ll be at that stage have to make a call as to whether we can all move together at the European level, or whether we should plough on at a domestic level.”

Source: Irish Examiner February 10, 2026 11:28 UTC