A high proportion of eight to 12-year-olds are allowed to use phones and other smart devices unsupervised in their bedrooms, according to new research.
The survey of over 2,000 primary school children by online safety charity CyberSafeKids is being released to mark Safer Internet Day.
Almost a third of children surveyed said they had been bothered or upset by something they had experienced online in the last year, but only half of them spoke to a parent or trusted adult about it.
"We've long seen a trend in our survey data highlighting a disconnect between children and their parents about what children are doing online," said CyberSafeKids CEO Alex Cooney.
"We urgently need to provide better support to parents so they feel more confident about engaging with their children about their online activity, setting limits around use and access, using parental controls and even holding off on giving children devices or access to social media, if they feel their child is not ready," Ms Cooney said.
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The responses were collected from children via anonymous online surveys before CyberSafeKids visited a school or delivered a live webinar.
The data was collected between September 2024 and January 2025.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Cooney said that on a "basic level", children using devices in their bedrooms at night can disrupt sleep due to the "constant notifications and the interruptions and the temptation to be on them".
But, she said, "at a darker level also there is that concern about what they're looking at, who they're talking to," adding the charity is concerned this cohort are "seeing stuff that really is bothering them".
Ms Cooney noted the survey found almost a third of children surveyed said they had been bothered or upset by something they had experienced online in the last year.
This media, she said, includes horror, terror, sexual content and a variety of other subject matters.
Enforcement to continue amid US pushback
Ireland's Online Safety Commissioner has said that she and her team will continue to enforce the rules despite US pushback against EU tech regulation.
Some US tech bosses, who have allied themselves with President Donald Trump, have been critical of European laws saying they amount to censorship and overregulation.
Because most of the big tech firms have their EU headquarters in Ireland, it falls on Irish regulators such as Coimisiún na Meán and the Data Protection Commission to police them.
Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said they will not be changing their approach to regulation.
"For an Irish regulator, it's the same for us. We are a statutory regulator and we oversee the regulatory framework and we enforce it, so nothing has changed in that regard," Ms Hodnett said.
"It's EU law and will be applying it," she added.
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'Major public health issue across all generations'
Online usage is a major mental health topic said Policy Implementation Lead at the National Mental Health Office with the HSE Derek Chambers.
"Over the last couple of years, we've really been trying to raise mental health literacy around things like anxiety, stress, low mood, sleep. But now we see social media use, online use as being another issue that's really, it's a major public health issue across all generations."
Mr Chambers said the HSE is trying to emphasise the importance of digital literacy so parents and guardians feel empowered to talk to their children.
This would encourage children to talk to grown-ups about things they have seen online, he added, particularly if it is on websites they should not have been visiting.
"That gap is something that we really need to bridge. It's not easy. It's a difficult thing to navigate."
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, he said the HSE partners with CyberSafeKids and the 'Same Rules Apply' campaign, which is a great starting point for families.
It is vital the lines of communication are kept open, he added.
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day has been marked with events around the world and this year's theme is 'Navigating Algorithms and Influencers' which encourages parents, schools, educators, young people and all stakeholders to consider how algorithms and influencers shape young people's lives.
New research from the first EU-wide survey on loneliness indicates that one-third of young respondents exhibit patterns of social-media addiction. They have neglected work, family or school several times a week or more because of their social-media habits.
Safer Internet Day in Ireland is coordinated by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, a partnership between Hotline, ISPCC, the National Parents Council and Webwise.
Experts gathered at Microsoft Headquarters in Dublin for an event focused on internet safety.
"We believe in encouraging children to engage with new technologies, however we are also cognisant of the importance of preparing them for the dangers they may encounter online," said Webwise National Co-Ordinator Jane McGarrigle.
"We want to empower them with the coping skills and resilience they need to thrive in the digital world," Ms McGarrigle said.
Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee said online safety is an area she will be prioritising over the months and years ahead.
"While technology brings many exciting benefits and opportunities, it can also expose pupils and students to negative impacts," Ms McEntee said.
"It is imperative that we use every lever available to us to help ensure they can stay safe and have the very best opportunity to thrive," she added.
