Urgent: 51% of Irish Children Face Online Safety Risks Today

New reports confirm that over 51% of Irish children are at a serious risk while chatting and gaming with strangers online. A startling new study from CyberSafeKids reveals that this significant portion of children lacks parental restrictions on online interactions, exposing them to potential dangers.

The findings, based on survey responses from more than 3,300 primary school children aged 8 to 12 and over 1,700 parents, highlight that only 39% of children feel their parents can “check, monitor, or control” their online activities. This alarming gap leaves many young users vulnerable to inappropriate content and contact with strangers, raising urgent concerns for families across Ireland as they mark Safer Internet Day 2026.

Children are increasingly active online, with an astonishing 93% of them using gaming or social media apps, often on platforms designed for older users. Despite regulatory measures introduced in July 2025, 69% of those aged 8-12 hold at least one account on social media platforms rated for users aged 13 and older. Among 12-year-olds, this figure rises to 79%, indicating a troubling trend in youth engagement with unregulated digital spaces.

CyberSafeKids has launched its fifth ‘Same Rules Apply’ parental awareness campaign, supported by HSE and Accenture. This initiative aims to equip parents with essential knowledge and tools to safeguard their children online. However, the research shows significant gaps in parental understanding: 25% of parents report feeling “not at all” familiar with the games and apps their children use, while 47% have not implemented any parental controls.

The statistics are concerning, with 21% of children having public accounts and 17% acknowledging they have online “friends” they do not know offline. Boys are particularly at risk, with 25% having public accounts compared to 16% of girls, and about one in ten boys having no privacy settings at all.

The data reveals a troubling trend: 31% of children share photos or videos online, most frequently on TikTok, followed by Snapchat and YouTube. Girls are more likely to share these images, with 34% compared to 28% of boys. A significant portion of children lacks guidance on online safety; only 47% of 8-12 year-olds have rules about setting accounts to ‘private’ or sharing personal content online.

Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafeKids, emphasizes the urgency of the situation: “Our research shows many children are navigating complex online spaces largely alone, with little meaningful parental oversight. They often share photos and videos without understanding who can see them or the potential risks involved.”

Dr. Colman Noctor, a Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist, adds, “Young people are not emotionally or socially mature enough to manage unlimited exposure to internet content. We must help them learn self-regulation skills and protect them from excessive online allure.”

In light of these findings, CyberSafeKids is calling on the Irish government to take decisive action to enhance online protections for children. The organization outlines five key measures aimed at strengthening online safety regulations.

The ‘Same Rules Apply’ campaign launches today across social media, featuring a short film that challenges the false distinction between online and offline worlds. Parents are encouraged to visit www.cybersafekids.ie/samerulesapply for resources and support to better manage their children’s online activities.

As concerns for online safety surge, parents and guardians are urged to take immediate action to protect their kids from the dangers lurking in digital spaces. The time for effective regulation and informed parenting is now, as children navigate a complex and often perilous online landscape.