What would a social media ban mean for Ireland’s status as Europe’s tech hub?

The Irish government has signalled that it is exploring options to introduce age restrictions on social media use for under-16s. The proposal sits within the government’s new National Digital and AI Strategy 2030, which frames online safety and age verification as part of Ireland’s broader ambition to act as a European digital regulatory hub.

The proposals include a “digital wallet” age-verification system. Detailed technical specifications have not yet been published. However, digital...