He was speaking at a public meeting in Wicklow.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that the algorithms used by social media are causing “profound damage” and anxiety among teenagers.
Explaining that these algorithms aim to “bombard” teens with content such as eating disorders and pornography, Donnelly claimed this may be fuelling rising anxiety levels.
Making the comments at a meeting organised by schools in Greystones, Co Wicklow, the Minister said it was vital to “get behind the curtain” on how these sites operate as a way of protecting young people.
He said that the demand for youth mental health services has risen by 33% between 2020 and 2021 and believes the cause of this could be linked to the access teenagers have to social media post-Covid.
“My own non-clinical view is that there is something profoundly disruptive and damaging associated with social media, mobile phones and certain types of internet access,” he said, according to The Irish Times.
He went on to say that he speaks to parents on the regular about the rising anxiety rates seen and how algorithms have pushed content regarding conspiracy theories and eating disorders.
“We need to understand that, on social media, algorithms promote negative content, they promote aggression, violence and hatred… We know that. We’ve heard the testimony in the US Congress on this in Facebook’s, we know what’s happening,” he added.
“This isn’t an Irish issue – this is a global issue… I just think is profoundly important and urgent.”
A survey of parents at eight local schools in the Greystones area found that 56% of parents reported that their children had experienced anxiety or another mental health difficulty, with almost a third seeking assistance with this.
Those parents who sought help for their children also noted that they faced obstacles due to long waiting lists and lack of accessibility.
Main photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie
