The Tánaiste recently called for parents to consider delaying access to smartphones for their children due to what he described as a "toxic" online environment.
Simon Harris has also said that 'Adolescence', the popular Netflix drama about a teenage boy who becomes violent after being influenced by misogynists on social media - should be "compulsive viewing in every secondary school in Ireland".
This all comes as a growing number of parents grapple with whether they should give their child a smartphone as they prepare to enter secondary school.
A recent survey of parents with children under the age of 16 by Eir found 42% gave their child a phone earlier than they would have liked.
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However, some parents in south Dublin have had enough of this pressure and have set up a 'Delay smartphones or social media' WhatsApp group.
They are supporting parents with children going into first year across a number of schools in the area to hold off on phones or social media access.
Gillian Hurley is one of the mothers working on the initiative.
She has a 12-year-old son, and after speaking to other parents of children in his class, realised many of them were "pretty adamant" that they did not want to give their children smartphone.
"We discussed the idea of setting up a WhatsApp group and within two or three days of starting the group there were, I think, over 100 parents, who had joined it.
"We thought that might be more detrimental than giving her the phone in the first place."
"We wanted it to be easier for our sons, if we weren't giving them a phone, that they wouldn't feel so left out by being the only ones."
Despite being clear on her position, she acknowledges it will be difficult.
"I'm sure I will have arguments with my son.
"But I really feel it's about giving the internet access to my child, and I think there's much higher risks and more harmful implications to them with that having to live with using an alternative.
"I think that really is the lesser of two evils."
For some of the parents in this newly established group, they may be attempting to put the genie back in the bottle somewhat.
Ross Staunton is another parent involved and said his eldest daughter got a phone after sixth class, but he does not want his son, who is starting secondary school in 2025, to have one.
Ross said they "caved in to [their] daughter" as they were afraid she would be left out of social groups if they didn’t give her one.
"We thought that might be more detrimental than giving her the phone in the first place.
"But if there is an initiative now within the school, we feel we have the opportunity now to hold off with our son because there are other kids who won't have phones.
"It's an easier sell and an easier conversation with our son to say: 'Look, you won't be the only one.'"
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32% of children upset by something they had experienced online
As seen in 'Adolescence', with smartphone use comes social media.
A CyberSafeKids survey of eight to 12-year-olds recently found that 32% of respondents had been upset by something they experienced online last year but only half spoke to a parent or trusted adult.
Sixth class student Evelina, from St Paul's National School in Dooradoyle, Limerick, said she has experienced cyberbullying through apps on her smartphone.
"Cyberbullying happens a lot and it's happened to me twice by the same person.
"I told my parents and at the time it was a bit scary. They told me to block the person who was contacting me."
Read more: Quarter of primary school children upset by online content - survey
Caroene Santos Murray, Child and Parental psychologist at the Tree of Life Clinic Blackrock, said she is seeing more cases of children distressed because of this type of cyberbullying.
She said that it is not only bullying they are experiencing but also online sexual abuse and intimidation.
Ms Santos Murray said children can be reluctant to speak up.
"They know something is wrong, but especially in that age, they really want to belong.
"Sometimes they just keep going. They feel anxiety levels coming up, sometimes they can't name it.
"But then the parents or the teachers at school notice more irritability, changes in behaviour or even isolation."
"I haven't been given a phone because my parents don't want me having one because they know like a lot of bad things can happen online."
However, she does caution that restricting smartphones or social media should come with clear reasoning from the parents, because sometimes without an explanation the rule can seem like an "imposition" for no reason.
"It's very clear in the parents' head that [the internet] may be dangerous, or maybe it's impacting development or maybe bringing more anxiety or things like that, but sometimes the child has no clue why it’s just an imposition.
"Have a talk with your child," she said.
Students in fifth and sixth class from St Paul's National School, Dooradoyle, said that many of them already have a phone.
"I have a phone to contact my parents in case of emergency or sometimes I play games," said Joseph.
"So, when I'm home alone, my parents can contact me and if I have to walk home from school, they can call me, and I can call them."
Karina also has a phone and likes to use some social media apps.
"I have TikTok and like Instagram. I don't really have, like, any rules," she said. "I just can't be on my phone for too long."
Of the group of six, only two did not have phones yet.
Leo said "it’s okay" as he will get one before secondary school.
However, Anthony does not think he will.
"I haven't been given a phone because my parents don't want me having one because they know like a lot of bad things can happen online."
Also, out of the group of six, two reported experiencing cyberbullying already.
