Jigsaw urges Government to prioritize digital resilience alongside social media restrictions

Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health, has today responded to the Government’s Memo to Cabinet regarding the drafting of new legislation to restrict social media use for those under 16. While acknowledging the Government’s intent to enhance online safety, Jigsaw is calling for the upcoming Bill to move beyond simple “blanket bans” and instead embed youth voice and digital resilience into the core of the new regulations.

Drawing on its 2025 youth-led policy brief, Social Media & Youth Mental Health, Jigsaw highlights that while young people are keenly aware of online risks, they remain concerned that restrictive controls alone are often unrealistic and can disproportionately impact marginalized youth who rely on these spaces for connection and support. As the legislative process begins, Jigsaw is urging the Government to include mandatory youth-informed impact assessments for the new measures to ensure they do not unintentionally harm the very people they aim to protect.

Dr. Jeff Moore, Director of Research at Jigsaw said:

“The findings from our youth-led policy research show that the link between social media use and young people’s mental health is complex. Young people speak clearly about the risks they encounter online, including exposure to harmful content and peer pressure, but they also describe how digital spaces support connection, identity development, and access to help. Many young people do not believe that a blanket ban on social media use will be effective on its own, and policies that rely only on restriction risk missing this reality.

“Jigsaw, alongside many international colleagues in youth mental health, recommends an approach grounded in harm reduction. This means combining proportionate regulatory safeguards, including stronger platform safety and age-appropriate design standards, with sustained national investment in digital literacy, resilience-building, and supports for parents and caregivers. Helping young people develop the skills to navigate online environments safely is as important as limiting exposure to risk.

“Young people must also be directly involved in shaping the policies that affect them. Introducing youth-informed impact assessments as part of the legislative process would help ensure that new measures are practical, rights-based, and grounded in the everyday experiences of young people in Ireland.

Notes:

• Jigsaw is Ireland’s National Centre for Youth Mental Health, supporting young people aged 12-25 with free and confidential therapy.

• Jigsaw’s 2025 Youth-led Policy Brief, Social Media & Youth Mental Health.

• The 2025 Online Health Taskforce Report was a government-commissioned study that highlighted the need for “Safety by Design” and digital literacy alongside regulation.