Primary teachers' union the INTO has called for a national taskforce to deal with the "real and escalating danger" presented by social media.
It called for decisive action from the Government, warning: "We are well past the point where this can be treated as a developing issue."
The union made the comments before members of an Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality.
INTO president Anne Horan said teachers have been placed at the "frontline" of managing the impact of online harm "that they did not create and do not have the ability to regulate".
Teachers and school leaders are experiencing "disproportionate" levels of online abuse and harassment, "much of which originates on or is amplified by poorly regulated platforms, she said.
Ms Horan said the "rapid deployment of AI-enabled systems" has intensified these risks.
She criticised the "lack of rigour" in age verification systems, and highlighted the "mounting body of evidence linking exposure to harmful online content with poor mental health outcomes for children".
The union also called for "comprehensive guidelines and guardrails to be developed", with appropriate training for primary teachers.
Meanwhile, the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) called for a national social framework for education settings.
Education and Research Officer, David Duffy said it was important to "make clear where the core responsibility lies".
"We can put the responsibility on a 13-year-old or we can put the responsibility on the companies that make money from it," he said.
Teachers particularly vulnerable to anonymous harassment - ASTI
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has warned that teachers' public-facing roles make them "particularly vulnerable to anonymous harassment".
It said in "rare, but deeply distressing cases" teachers are vulnerable to image manipulation or threats.
General Secretary, Kieran Christie said it has developed a hub to support members with preventative advice, reporting pathways and guidance on legal rights.
A Red C survey last year found that around one-in-five second-level teachers has experienced work-related cyber-bullying.
Mr Christie said regulation must examine algorithmic design as recommender systems "amplify harmful material and draw young people into dangerous online rabbit holes".
He said educational bodies should have statutory Trusted Flagger recognition across major platforms.
Mr Christie also called for state-funded professional development for teachers so they can respond to "rapidly evolving technologies".
The Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) said while a social media ban "wouldn't resolve the overall issue, similar to underage drinking, it would set the standard and acknowledge harm caused and may reduce the overall prevalence".
"Just because people always find workarounds doesn’t mean action shouldn’t be taken," said its president Deirdre Kelly.
Ms Kelly said schools alone cannot deal with these issues.
"At least if we had the age verification system where children have to prove they are 16, we are mitigating some of the risk associated there," she said.
