Ireland’s media minister announces new mechanism for complaints about social media companies

The transcript discusses the feasibility of implementing an individual complaints mechanism for online services, emphasizing that it should be available to those who have exhausted existing procedures. The introduction of such a mechanism should be phased, with a focus on protecting children. It is crucial that social media platforms maintain robust complaint handling processes. An expert group recommends systemic regulation through online safety codes to ensure consistent and effective complaint handling, which would support the individual complaints mechanism.

What is the initial step recommended for implementing an individual complaints mechanism?

• Phased introduction

• Outsourcing to third-party services

• Immediate full-scale implementation

• Complete reliance on existing procedures

Why is it important to have an individual complaints mechanism for children?

• To reduce the workload of social media companies

• To protect children from online harm

• To eliminate the need for parental supervision

• To increase the number of complaints

What responsibility do social media services retain despite the introduction of an individual complaints mechanism?

• To eliminate all user complaints

• To operate robust complaint handling processes

• To provide free services to all users

• To create new social media platforms

What is the role of online safety codes as recommended by the expert group?

• To replace existing complaint mechanisms

• To ensure consistent and effective complaint handling

• To increase the number of online services

• To provide free internet access

Why is systemic regulation important according to the expert group?

• To reduce the number of online users

• To support the individual complaints mechanism

• To increase the complexity of online services

• To eliminate the need for online safety codes