Welcome to the first epsiode of a brand new series on Galway Bay FM - Next Gen Galway with Kayte O'Malley.
A familiar voice to Galway Bay FM listeners from On the Move, and now 3-5 Drive, Kayte will be using this new platform to spotlight youth voices across the city and county, from student innovation to emerging trends.
Last December, Australia became the first country in the world to enact a social media ban for Under 16s essentially prohibiting them from using platforms like TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
The rationale behind this ban was to reduce the negative impact of social media on teens.
According to a survey commissioned by the Australian government in 2025, seven out of 10 10-15 years olds had been exposed to harmful content online. This included misogynistic and violent material as well as content promoting eating disorders and suicide. One in seven also reported experiencing grooming-type behaviour from adults or older children. More than half of those surveyed said they had been the victim of cyberbullying.
Since the Australian ban came into force, a number of EU countries are also working on similar proposals.
France has already passed regulations banning under 15s from social media while Ireland, Austria, Slovenia, the UK and Spain are currently working on restricting access to the likes of TikTok and Instagram for young people.
In today's episode, we asked parents in Galway what they think of a potential social media ban.
We also hear from Tanaiste Simon Harris and Studyclix CEO Luke Saunders about recent research into studying and phones.
Maeve and Liam from our Next Gen Galway Youth Panel join us. They will give their views, as the generation who would be directly affected by any potential ban.
Galway 360 on Galway Bay FM
Discover Galway through a fresh daily lens with Galway 360, a series of themed 10-minute segments airing every weekday as part of FYI Galway at 5:45pm, with extended podcast versions available on our app and website. From business and tech to youth culture and Irish language stories, each feature brings you closer to the people, ideas, and events shaping Galway today.
