The EU's age verification app for online platforms is technically ready and will soon be available to use, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.
Rather than banning social media use for under 16s, the Irish Government is developing a digital wallet which will verify a user's age based on their PPS number.
Ms von der Leyen listed Ireland as one of the member states that are "frontrunners" and "making great progress" along with France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus.
"They are planning to integrate the app into their national wallets," she said.
"This app will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms. Just like shops ask for proof of age for people buying alcoholic beverages in a shop."
Ms von der Leyan said the app is user-friendly.
"You download the app. You set it up with your passport or ID card. You then prove your age when accessing online services," she said.
She added that the app "respects the highest privacy standards in the world".
Privacy campaigners in Ireland have expressed concerns about requiring people to share their PPS numbers in order to gain access to online platforms.
