Tate Minish, a scholar from University College Cork, relinquishing his social media activities in February 2024 due to perceived damage to his mental health, has been shared. Minish revealed his continual state of anxiety and suggested he has since discovered enhanced balance and purpose in life after eliminating the dominating impact of social media. “It seemed as though Big Tech didn’t desire for me to function properly,” he expressed.
Moreover, the Uplift campaign group, expressing its wish for progressive variations across Ireland, conducted a ‘People’s Inquiry on Big Tech Harms’ event in Dublin. Media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, following the event, published its online safety guidelines declaring the end of self-controlled social media procedures.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, Tumblr and Reddit will be compelled to abide by the new regulations or risk receiving fines of up to €20 million or 10% of annual earnings, whichever is greater. The Taoiseach Simon Harris managed an online safety conference at the Government Buildings.
Human rights counsel, Noeline Blackwell led the Uplift event, wherein testimonials regarding social media’s potential damage were heard from activists and scholars. Blackwell stated the occasion provides an opportunity to examine how the government and tech corporations can work together to notably reduce the damage in the digital world.
Blackwell stated, “Instead of dwelling on what the victim can do or what the person enduring harm can do along the way, we should focus on the flawed system and the structures that may be aiding, or even causing harm”.
Finally, Minish concluded, “To preserve my mental health, I had to deactivate my social media profiles because simply existing was leading to showers of hatred”.
Jacob Sosinsky, of Uplift, joined a discussion where participants spoke about the negative repercussions of irregular governance on democracy, environmental conservation, and mental wellness, as well as the high rates of online maltreatment towards marginalised groups such as migrants and individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. Speakers at the event included Liz Carolan who campaigns on tech and democracy, race relations specialist Dr Ebun Joseph, Ian Power from SpunOut, and tech policy adviser Tanya O’Carroll.
Sharon Mpofu, who is part of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, discussed the internet-based hate crimes faced by individuals seeking sanctuary in the country.
According to Mpofu, cyber hate speech is impacting numerous immigrants in the country, subjecting these individuals to scornful remarks, discrimination, and attempts to silence them. This hate speech bandied about on virtual platforms is causing direct on-ground issues too. These include verbal and physical attacks on individuals on their way to work or school and kids facing bullying.
Speaking from his experience as both a transgender individual and a member of the LGBTQ+ sector, Jacob Sosinsky from Uplift explored how these platforms can often serve as fertile ground for downplaying LGBTQ+ rights.
Sosinsky admitted that he was compelled to deactivate his social media accounts due to the detestation targeted at him for simply existing, which had serious implications on his psychological health.
Uplift’s Executive Director Siobhán O’Donoghue pointed out that a small number of prominent tech firms manipulate our digital environments for private gains.
Uplift has plans to submit a proposal to the Government to enhance the safety of internet usage for everyone. Furthermore, it plans to confront leaders of prominent tech organisations about the damage inflicted on Ireland’s people and communities. O’Donoghue voiced hopes that the People’s Inquiry on Big Tech Harms may serve as a catalyst for change.
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