People Before Profit-Solidarity launched a new Bill today that will
1) turn off recommender algorithms for children aged under 18, and
2) ensure that recommender algorithms based on profiling or sensitive personal data have to be actively turned on by adult users.
Paul Murphy TD said, 'Toxic social media content is driving an epidemic of mental health problems among young people, with anxiety, self harm, eating disorders and online addiction all spiralling.
'Parents are worried about the impact of toxic social media content on their children and women, people of colour and LGBTQ+ people are put at risk by the role of recommender algorithms in spreading misogyny, racism, homophobia and transphobia. Three-quarters of the public believe that there should be stronger regulation of social media algorithms.
'Last year Coimisiun na Meain’s draft Online Safety Code included a recommendation to turn off recommender algorithms by default. However, this was scrapped following lobbying by the big tech companies whose profits depend on keeping people scrolling for longer so they can sell them advertising.'
Dr. Johnny Ryan, of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and director of Enforce, said, 'All parties should be gravely concerned by social media recommender algorithms. They push self-harm and suicide in to children’s social feeds, and artificially amplify extremism and political polarisation.'
Niamh McDonald, Hope and Courage Collective said, 'We know that people’s real lives are affected by what plays out online. Right now social media and video platforms recommend illegal, hateful and violent content for people to see.
'It is a business model that prioritises emotionally manipulative content through algorithms that drive sharing and engagement. This distorts what people believe to be true, manipulates emotions and heightens tensions, and in cases breaks laws.'
Ruth Coppinger TD concluded, 'The rise of the "manosphere" and of violent misogyny go hand in hand. Sexual offences and "Traditional" views among younger men have grown. A Women’s Aid survey revealed that 54% of men believe worth is measured "by power and control over others" and 46% that "real men shouldn’t care about women’s feelings"
'Andrew Tate — who himself faces rape and sex trafficking charges — has 10.8 million followers on X and is favourably viewed by a huge number of young men.
'Why has this been allowed happen? Why has the manosphere been allowed operate unchecked with such dangerous consequences for girls, women and LGBTQ people? Governments have been in thrall to the social media giants who profit from the manosphere.
'DCU research found young males were fed ‘toxic’ antifeminist and other extremist content within 23 minutes of setting up a Tiktok account. X makes an estimated £10m profit a year from Tate-generated traffic. These companies have bases in Ireland and enjoy special tax deals. Ireland is tasked with regulating them on behalf of the EU but doesn’t do so.'
Speakers at today's press conference included Dr. Johnny Ryan, Director of Enforce, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Niamh McDonald of the Hope and Courage Collective as well as Ruth Coppinger and Paul Murphy TDs.