Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This week marks national eating disorders awareness week. I raise with the Taoiseach the damaging impact social media is having on the self-esteem and mental health of our young people, in particular when it comes to eating disorders. Only a few months ago, the Facebook whistleblower, Ms Frances Haugen, reported that Instagram targets pro-anorexia content towards young girls who show a vulnerability of low self-esteem and negative body image.

The Instagram algorithm is basically selling these young people an eating disorder. Ireland is the European hub for almost all of our social media companies. We have responsibility to address these issues adequately in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022. What is the Government doing to protect our young people from the dangerous manipulation of social media companies?

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