Latest news with #OnlineSafety(RecommenderAlgorithms)Bill2025

The Irish Sun

‘Parents are worried' – New warning over ‘toxic' social media algorithms & bill to stop ‘concerning' children's feeds

SOCIAL media companies would be banned from using 'toxic' algorithms on children under the age of 18 as part of a new bill aimed at protecting the mental health of young people. Platforms such as Advertisement 2 People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy believes toxic content online is leading to an epidemic of mental health issues Credit: Alamy 2 Social media companies would be banned from using 'toxic' algorithms on children under the new bill Credit: Getty Images - Getty This can lead to a situation where someone who has clicked a video about dangerous material such as self harm, extremism or porn being bombarded with similar content on their People Before Profit have launched a new bill calling on social media companies to not use these recommender algorithms for users under the age of 18. The Online Safety (Recommender Algorithms) Bill 2025 would rule that video platforms must People Before Profit TD Advertisement READ MORE IRISH NEWS He said: 'Toxic social media content is driving an epidemic of '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. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Latest '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.' The bill is being backed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties who have raised concerns about the type of content pushed towards children by these algorithms. The Council's Dr Johnny Ryan 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'. Advertisement 'WHY HAS THIS BEEN ALLOWED?' Niamh McDonald, from the Hope and Courage Collective, told the press conference that people's real lives are "affected by what plays out online". She continued: "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.' Advertisement Ruth Coppinger concluded: "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."