40% surge in peer-on-peer sex assault cases referred to specialist service 

The increase of peer assaults is believed to be linked to social media. File picture

The number of peer-on-peer sexual assault cases referred to a specialist service surged by almost 40% in just one year.

A conference in Dublin has heard concerns about the growth of social media and extreme pornography, and also highlighted the impact on young men, in particular, from ‘manosphere’ influencers whose content can be misogynistic and degrading towards women.