Social Democrats TD says Oireachtas hearings won’t curb harmful online content

Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney warned that repeatedly summoning social‑media firms before Oireachtas committees will not address the root causes of harmful online material.

Gibney made the comments after TikTok representatives outlined the platform’s policies on illegal and criminal content, noting that thousands of videos promoting risky driving had been removed in the first half of the year, but admitting that some material inevitably slips through.

The Dublin Rathdown TD said that despite such takedown figures, “harmful content is prolific across social media platforms and can result in devastating real‑life consequences.” She highlighted the existence of subcultures that glorify school shooters and mass murderers, and cited the role of platforms in inflaming incidents such as the Dublin and Belfast riots.

Gibney, a former head of social action at Google, argued that the business model of these companies – including recommender algorithms and a design that prioritises engagement over safety – contributes to the spread of violent and criminal content.

She concluded that “I’m sick of seeing social media companies hauled in front of the Oireachtas Media Committee every few months after some horrific incident has occurred, only for nothing to change,” calling for proper regulation and accountability for the dangerous material pushed onto screens.

Source: Dublin People. Photo: Daniel Wells / Pexels.