# Online
This week
22nd January 2023 - 28th January 2023
Voices
Therapist: How do we challenge toxic masculinity and its appeal to impressionable young men?
Geoffrey McCarthy looks at the Andrew Tate case and the troubling message it brings.
Last month
December 2022
# extremism
Gardaí take part in European operation targeting online content from far-right and terrorist groups
The operation took place on 15 December and involved 14 countries.
Last year
2022
# cybersafekids
More than a quarter of 8 to 12-year-olds find it hard to switch off from smart devices
CyberSafeKids is running its third annual 24-hour ‘CyberBreak’ from 5pm today to 5pm tomorrow.
# Podcast
The Explainer: Is the internet bad for our brains?
Listen here to find out from cyberpsychology researcher and lecturer Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton.
# hate
Police investigating racial abuse of Man United youngster Elanga
The 19-year-old missed the decisive spot-kick as the Red Devils lost a shoot-out to Middlesbrough on Friday.
All time
# Offline
'It's a very hostile, toxic place to come into' - Phil Jones explains why he left social media
The Man United defender, who hasn’t played since January 2020, says young players need to be mentally strong to deal with online abuse.
# Online
OnlyFans reverses plan to ban sexually explicit content
The announcement last week about the policy change was met with widespread surprise.
# Safety
New media regulator needs powers to order ‘swift takedown’ of harmful content
The deputy Data Protection Commissioner said the new media commission has to be able to regulate all types of harmful online content.
# online activity
Mary Lou McDonald says voters can 'of course' ask Sinn Féin what information the party holds on them
McDonald was speaking about her party’s data collection practices amid questions from the Data Protection Commission.
# St Patrick's Day
Here are Taoiseach Micheál Martin's three-day virtual St Patrick's Day plans with the US
The Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day programme will begin on Monday, 15 March.
# Internet
Increasing majority of children aged 8-12 use social media, according to new survey
Charity CyberSafeKids found that 92% of children in this age group own their own smart device.
# public discourse
Sinn Féin says Leo Varadkar's claims about 'racist and homophobic' online supporters are 'without foundation'
Louise O’Reilly says Varadkar is seeking to distract attention from government policy.
# Consent
McEntee wants image-based abuse to be illegal by the end of the year
People could face up to seven years in prison if they publish intimate images without consent.
# Green Party
Eamon Ryan: Government will spend €1 million a day on walking and cycling
The Green Party leader was addressing his party’s national convention.
# misogyny
'These are communities which are extremely violently misogynistic': Investigating the world of incels, pick-up artists and men who hate women
We speak to the author Laura Bates about what she discovered in some of the dark – and not so dark – recesses of the internet.
# cybersafe ireland
Two thirds of children contacted by a stranger while gaming online, according to new survey
The survey was conducted by charity Cybersafe Ireland.
# Online
Twitter and the Taoiseach: Why Fianna Fáil is playing catch-up on social media
Fine Gael is generally seen to have been adept at social media – something heightened during Covid-19 crisis.
# Social Media
Coca Cola suspends ads on social media as platforms come under fire over handling of racist content
Unilver, home to brands like Lipton tea, also said it would suspend ads on social media until the end of 2020.
# Lockdown
Storming, norming, performing - Lancaster keeps Leinster focused
The province’s senior coach hasn’t been wasting his time back home in Leeds.
# Banking
Banking institutes warn customers to be 'extra vigilant' of Covid-19 online scams
Figures from the BPFI show €12m was scammed through card fraud alone last year.
# Too Good to be True
Consumers warned about new online scam advertising cheap flights
Consumers are advised not to use public Wi-Fi when buying things online, and to ensure ‘https’ is before the website address.
# Driving Test
New online booking system for driving tests to be launched in the autumn
Currently the national average waiting time for a driving test is eight weeks.
# Newry
Primary school website taken over by hardcore porn after IT mixup
When you clicked on the link, you were instead directed to a porn website with categories including ‘humiliation’ and ‘spandex’. The issue has since been resolved.
# online safety act
New law to crack down on cyberbullying and material that promotes self-harm
Minister for Communications Richard Bruton is proposing the establishment of an Online Safety Commissioner.
# Online
'Like an episode of Winning Streak': Video game loot boxes exposing children to gambling, Dáil hears
Future gambling legislation could include provisions on loot boxes in video games.
# Cyber Safety
80% of 8 to 10-year-olds own a device capable of accessing the internet, and 40% are talking to strangers online
Today is Safer Internet Day, with organisations working to raise awareness around how people can be more safe online.
# Courts
Woman fears for her safety due to online messages sent from male 'stalker', court hears
The woman claims the unwanted communications began almost a decade ago.
# whatcha reading?
These are the most visited pages on Wikipedia in 2018
Royals, football and films. Some things don’t change.
# Online abuse
Fulham vow to take 'strongest possible action' after Kamara suffers racist abuse
The club has spoken out after vile online abuse followed the striker’s penalty miss on Saturday.
# dcu report
The features of online hate speech in Ireland and why it's often not flagged
A DCU report said that there were two types of people who posted hate speech: those “versed” in it and those who just reproduce it.
# Courts
Man charged over alleged 7-year online harassment campaign against number of women
He was remanded for eight weeks from today while a book of evidence is prepared.
# Research
Out of your league? Study shows most online daters seek more desirable mates
The majority of people in the analysed dating networks contact other people who are 25% more desirable than themselves.
# Liverpool
Teenager who named her brother's sex abuse victims online jailed
Sophie Turner named the victims in the comments of a Liverpool Echo story.
# Keyboard Warriors
Press Council attacks 'unaccountable' social media for 'giving space to conspiracy theorists'
The Press Ombudsman also said it has increased aggressiveness in public discourse.
# Pitch perfect
Yanny or Laurel? What do you hear in the internet's latest mind-melting debate
It’s The Dress 2018.
# Your Say
Poll: Do you agree with someone sharing photos of their children online?
For some, sharing photos of their children is the most natural thing imaginable. For others, it’s completely unfair to the child in question.
# Data Protection
'Common sense prevailed': Proposal to raise digital age of consent to 16 rejected
Children’s rights groups had strongly opposed the proposal.
Voices
Roisin Shortall: 'Harvesting the personal data of children for marketing purposes is repugnant'
If it isn’t clearly prohibited there is no incentive for these companies to stop the practice, writes Roisin Shortall.
# stick to the knitting
Why some fashion stores like Penneys and TK Maxx resist selling online
Despite its popularity, e-commerce doesn’t always make business sense.
# Online
Poll: Is online pornography a 'useful' way to learn about sex?
A new survey suggests that around one in five young people feel that it is a useful way to find out about sex.
