Social media

Sign in

#Social media

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>A typical trad wife 'with an impossibly tiny waist and a gingham apron who, having crafted a gourmet meal for Himself, rushes off to make up her face because that’s the least the main breadwinner should expect.' Picture: iStock</p>

S columnists

Terry Prone: This anti-tradwife campaign must be stopped

The Government plans to thwart influencers promoting 'stereotypical roles for women and girls'. Meanwhile, Irish girls prefer shopping, gossip, make-up, and spice bags to a life as a stay-at-home mother

<p>Spanish soldiers escort migrants back to the Moroccan border past a resident at a bus stop in Ceuta. While the arrival of so many people was an issue, a wave of social media posts omitted to mention that most of the migrants returned to Morocco within days. Picture: Bernat Armangue/AP</p>

comment-analysis

Colin Sheridan: Ceuta disaster is real. But it also has an entirely fake second life on social media

<p>The Order of Service is held up ahead of the funeral of Glen Hansard at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. The Oscar-winning Irish musician and activist died in a motorcycle crash last week. Picture date: Tuesday August 4, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Damien Eagers/PA Wire</p>

columnists

Colin Sheridan: Death makes liars of us all — canonising Glen Hansard denies his humanity

New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567m over harms to children’s mental health

world

New Mexico court orders Meta to pay $567m over harms to children’s mental health

Government publishes strategy aimed at tackling effects of porn and 'tradwife influencers'

news

Government publishes strategy aimed at tackling effects of porn and 'tradwife influencers'

US-TECHNOLOGY-AI-CES

technology

An immersive experience or worrying development? How Meta’s smartglasses divide opinion

APTOPIX Spain Ceuta

Liz Carolan: Migrants pay a deadly price in Ceuta disinformation disaster

All the layers of neglected dysfunction in our information environment have come together into one deadly, toxic mess for Moroccans in Ceuta, writes Liz Carolan

Wed, 05 Aug, 2026

Spain Ceuta

European ministers agree to tackle online misinformation in wake of Ceuta crisis

The EU's commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, also called for international co-operation to dismantle powerful smuggling networks

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

sad lonely depression mood woman silhouette touch glass windows rainy dark day outside

Ireland misses deadline to expand human trafficking laws

Forced marriage, surrogacy exploitation, and illegal adoption should have been recognised as exploitation, according to advocates

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

Ireland should push for teenager social media ban during EU presidency, says French children's commissioner

Ireland should push for teenager social media ban during EU presidency, says French children's commissioner

Sarah El Haïry was speaking in Dublin after France adopted laws banning access to social media for children under the age of 15

Mon, 03 Aug, 2026

Snapchat

Gen Z Diary: Anyone using Snapchat in their 20s needs to take a long, hard look at themselves

I often think that I am no different than a teen, and then I talk to one and realise how desperately uncool I have become over the years

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Social media ban for children under 16

Panel’s report backs EU-wide minimum age for social media use

European Commission-appointed experts back minimum age until tech companies introduce safety design features to protect children and adolescents

Sun, 26 Jul, 2026

Cork influencer's Meta glasses video of young woman's medical emergency removed by TikTok

Cork influencer's prank videos linked to promotion of unlicensed gambling operator

Emer Walsh examines prank videos, covert filming and the promotion of an unlicensed gambling platform by Cork influencers

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026

GERMANY-US-INTERNET-X-TWITTER-MUSK

Elon Musk's X brings another five judicial review actions against Coimisiún na Meán

Judicial reviews relate to any decisions made by State representatives, bodies, or agencies, which can be challenged as to their correctness or otherwise in law

Thu, 23 Jul, 2026

Game of Thrones

AI will supercharge surveillance capitalism — and we're not ready

Where social media inferred your inner life from behaviour, AI receives it directly in your own words and in real time

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Social media app icons displayed on Apple iPhone

France becomes first EU country to approve blanket ban on social media for under-15s

Bill also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools as children's advocates and parents applaud vote

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Seeing dangerous driving on social media has 'more than expected' influence on young drivers

Seeing dangerous driving on social media has 'more than expected' influence on young drivers

According to the UCD study, peer pressure from other road users plays a significant role — and can lead to risky driving habits

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

Meta used AI to tag workers who took leave to be laid off, lawsuit claims

Meta used AI to tag workers who took leave to be laid off, lawsuit claims

Lawsuit filed by dozens of employees says people who took maternity or disability leave were disproportionately selected for layoffs

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

Cyberattack and internet crime, hacking and malware concepts. Digital binary code data numbers and secure lock icons on hacker'

Ireland urged to push permanent EU online child sexual abuse detection rules

Children's Rights Alliance says Ireland should use its EU presidency to secure lasting protections while balancing online privacy rights

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

The European Commission is preparing to issue preliminary findings that accuse Metas Facebook and Instagram of using exploitati

EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of 'addictive design'

Regulators say Facebook and Instagram features such as autoplay and infinite scroll contribute to 'compulsive use'

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Girl playing with a toy crib and teddy bear in a nursery-themed play room

S Jennifer Horgan: What would a museum of an Irish childhood look like?

I hope we commemorate children long gone, and chart brighter futures for children yet to come

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Pretty young vlogger recording make up tutorial

Influencers will be curbed under Michael McGrath's new EU Digital Fairness Act

New law is set to restrict promotion of products and services including plastic surgery, gambling, and risky financial products

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

Ireland can use its EU presidency to fight extreme far-right influence

Ireland can use its EU presidency to fight extreme far-right influence

Ireland needs to champion the re-discovery of the 'social model', the absence of which has created rampant poverty, homelessness, and societal disintegration across the EU

Tue, 07 Jul, 2026

'Graduated response' to age restrictions on social media suggested for EU-wide approach

'Graduated response' to age restrictions on social media suggested for EU-wide approach

Mr McGrath welcomes the 'very lively debate' across EU member states about age verification, with some countries announcing their own initiatives and measures

Mon, 06 Jul, 2026

Paul Hosford: Abuse of female politicians is unsurprising. That's the shocking thing

Paul Hosford: Abuse of female politicians is unsurprising. That's the shocking thing

That 96% of female Oireachtas members have experienced online violence ought to be surprising. But such is the toxicity amplified by social media is 'systemic, pervasive, and embedded'

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

elementary school students with smartphones

The digital choices shaping our children’s health and the reforms needed to protect their wellbeing

Around the world, childhood is being reprogrammed by digital technologies that shape how young people learn, play, and connect. But children and young people are not experimental subjects, a captive market, or a commodity, which is why we must shape digital environments that protect and support their healthy development.

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

TikTok branding.

TikTok considers 300 more job cuts in Ireland

A spokesperson for TikTok said the proposed restructuring would also create new roles

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Ukraine

Ukraine's EU bid can continue during war, Taoiseach says as Ireland begins European presidency

Taoiseach also says Ireland will push for an EU-wide age verification system and trade measures during its presidency

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Apron housewife at kitchen dish washer

S Sarah Harte: Social media is amping up the danger that women always faced at home

Intimate relationships often present the greatest danger for women — and now social media firms are openly profiting from spreading harmful porn and toxic masculinity. It's time we reined in Big Tech

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Technology Stock - Social Media

Has the clock started ticking for social media algorithms?

Algorithms are opaque, they optimise for the wrong things — engagement, virality, outrage — and they’re not neutral

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

Three in four parents share children’s photos online despite privacy fears, DPC survey finds

Three in four parents share children’s photos online despite privacy fears, DPC survey finds

Research highlights growing concerns over children's online privacy as AI-driven complaints to the Data Protection Commission also rise sharply

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

North Belfast stabbing

How the far right rationalises its acts of violent disorder

More must be done to combat the algorithmic reward to moral outrage on social media platforms, writes Claire Hamilton

Tue, 30 Jun, 2026

How investment scams are costing Irish victims thousands as fraudsters play the long game

How investment scams are costing Irish victims thousands as fraudsters play the long game

Banks, gardaí and fraud experts warn increasingly sophisticated scams are costing Irish investors hundreds of thousands of euro

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

83rd Golden Globes awards - Los Angeles

Viewers get in on the action as Netflix kicks off new interactive TV offerings

Released next week, Unhinged will see viewers use their phones as controllers to interact with objects on screen

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Social media ban for children under 16

Australia vows to bullet-proof ban on social media for under-16s

There has been a steady stream of evidence that the ban has had little impact

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Tech firms need to be asked why image-based sexual abuse is 'more widespread'

Tech firms need to be asked why image-based sexual abuse is 'more widespread'

The Higher Education Committee heard from several organisations across the country that university policies and practices need to change

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

teenage school girls being cyber bullies or just catching up on social media both on there phones, hand level copy space above

Norma Foley: We must listen to young voices regarding social media ban

With other countries promising to follow in Australia’s footsteps, any ban here has to be crafted with the insight and wisdom of the people it will affect, writes Norma Foley

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

War of Independents as Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins trade blows on Facebook

War of Independents as Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins trade blows on Facebook

The Tipperary South and Cork South-West TDs resort to 'handbags at dawn' after a Cork Aontú county councillor's Facebook post about this week's abortion vote

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Two Business People Using Mobile Phone in The Train

EU Court of Justice ruling may have just radically changed social media regulation

The rule exempting internet service providers from liability as a publisher is the foundation of modern social networks, but the court said it doesn't apply where an algorithm is used

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Hockney unveils his 'largest ever picture'

Sarah Harte: I channelled David Hockney to try and live in the now after my car and laptop died

Technology is useful, but staring at glowing rectangles is not a way to live. Like Hockney, staying alive to the quiet miracle of being here at all is the way forward

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

teenage school girls being cyber bullies or just catching up on social media both on there phones, hand level copy space above

Children will use 'workarounds' to access social media if age restriction is introduced, experts warn

Under-16s will change their date of birth, set up fake profiles or use their parents/older siblings PPS number to access social media, they say

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Social media ban for children under 16

Ireland to consider age verification as UK moves to ban under-16s from social media

Simon Harris said Ireland should 'follow suit' with the UK

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Caitríona Redmond: How much can you earn from social media? Here's what I got for a viral video

Caitríona Redmond: How much can you earn from social media? Here's what I got for a viral video

Irked by social media advertising? Maybe the problem lies with the platforms not valuing the work creators do?

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Asian Chinese little girl playing smartphone at outdoor cafe

Parents cannot fully protect children online from predators, says Irish Internet Hotline chief

Council of Europe and Irish experts call for tougher action as AI-generated abuse material proliferates online

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Colin Sheridan: Expertly operating the machinery of influence

Colin Sheridan: Expertly operating the machinery of influence

We are in living in the age of influencer journalism

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Friday Night Lights

S Jennifer Horgan: Kyle Chandler reels? Fine. But such scrolling could destroy my interior life

Although enjoying the ‘Friday Night Lights’ links, Jennifer Horgan headed back, in her own mind, to two recently-published books that pay better regard to our interior selves

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

BRITAIN-NIRELAND-POLICE-INVESTIGATION-IMMIGRATION

Irish Examiner view: We must prepare for online threat ahead of Ireland's EU presidency

Belfast unrest shows how online disinformation — from hostile states, extremist networks, or online agitators — can easily escalate a local incident into a global flashpoint

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Government to progress bill that would ban online deepfakes

Government to progress bill that would ban online deepfakes

The proposed legislation has been put forward by Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow-Wexford Malcolm Byrne

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

North Belfast stabbing

Belfast stabbing victim's family condemn disinformation about Stephen Ogilvie's condition

'False information circulating on social media is forcing us to clarify that our loved one is in fact in a stable condition'

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Ireland's European Union presidency will not disrupt Dáil's work – Taoiseach

Ireland's European Union presidency will not disrupt Dáil's work – Taoiseach

Government announces six-month programme which begins with a European Commission meeting in Cork on July 2

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026