The Irish Heart Foundation is calling on the government to ban junk food advertising by online influencers targeted at children and teenagers under 18. The call follows a survey commissioned by the charity and conducted by Ipsos B&A, which found strong public support for the measure.
The survey, which polled a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults by telephone, found that 79% of respondents back a ban to prevent children from being exposed to such marketing. The foundation argues that digital marketing, particularly through social media influencers, is a major driver of childhood obesity by promoting unhealthy food and drinks.
Chris Macey, Head of Advocacy at the Irish Heart Foundation, stated that current regulations are outdated and fail to cover the evolving digital landscape where influencers hold significant sway over young audiences. The charity is urging the Minister for Health to implement the ban as part of the Public Health (Obesity) Act.
This push aligns with broader European efforts to protect children from unhealthy food marketing. The Irish Heart Foundation emphasizes that such a ban is a necessary step to safeguard public health and reduce diet-related diseases in future generations.
