Irish charity finds most schoolchildren lack online time limits, urges 24-hour digital break
A survey by CyberSafeKids shows that over a third of primary pupils and two-thirds of secondary students in Ireland have no limits on their internet use, prompting a call for a nationwide 24-hour unplug day.
Research commissioned by the online-safety charity CyberSafeKids revealed that roughly one-third of primary-school children and two-thirds of secondary-school pupils in Ireland have no restrictions on the amount of time they spend online. The study, which surveyed over 1,200 young people after they returned to school, found that 18% of eight-to-12-year-olds and 20% of 12-to-15-year-olds find it difficult to stop using platforms that are built to retain their attention.
The most common online periods are before school, immediately after school and in the evening, with a majority keeping devices in their bedrooms overnight. In response, CyberSafeKids is promoting CyberBreak 2026, a campaign urging households, educators and employers to power down all smart devices after 7 p.m. on a Friday and take a 24-hour digital hiatus; more than 25,000 people have already pledged to join. Experts such as Alex Cooney, Richard Hogan and Brian Higgins emphasized the need for clear boundaries and parental role-modeling to improve children’s wellbeing.
Why it matters
Constant screen exposure harms children’s sleep and wellbeing, and coordinated breaks can foster healthier digital habits.
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