We’re getting rid of toxic Recommender Algorithms

Right now, powerful tech companies are deciding for us what shows up in our feeds. Their algorithms don’t show us the best of each other, they feed us the worst. Hate, lies, and harmful content are being pushed on us, especially on our children. Even if we try to follow trusted sources, the algorithm sneaks in conspiracy and extremism, because it makes us outraged and more likely to stay online for longer.

Together, we are putting people back in charge.

Our social media feeds should be made up of posts from the people, organisations and topics we choose to follow, not whatever an algorithm decides will keep us scrolling. By switching off toxic recommender algorithms by default, we will return to healthier, safer online spaces where our communities can thrive, connect and share on our own terms.

Our Democracy Shield Campaign

Michael McGrath has the power to keep us all safer online. But corporate lobbyists are pouring millions of euros into making sure it’s watered down. They want to keep us hooked for longer and use our personal information to sell us stuff we don’t want.

Together with the Hope and Courage Collective (HCC) and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), Uplift members have been targeting Cork man, Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner responsible for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection.

We are asking him to use the EU Democracy Shield that is currently in development to turn off social media recommender algorithms by default – to give people in Ireland and Europe control over what they see and share online.

What we’ve done so far

Meeting with Commissioner McGrath

🗓️On 12th September, we had a Zoom call with Commissioner McGrath to told him what our community thinks needs to be done to make our social media safer. He heard real-life stories from young people who’ve been harmed and manipulated by powerful big tech corporations. We made it clear to the Commissioner that he has the power to make much needed change.

Ireland Thinks poll

Thousands of us took part in an Ireland Thinks poll to find out more about how people in Cork feel about social media algorithms. The results showed just how concerned we are about the health and safety of our digital spaces:

80% of people in Cork worry that harmful content may be pushed into social feeds, compared with 74% nationally.
82% in Cork are concerned about lies, propaganda or conspiracy content in their feeds (vs 79% nationally).
69% in Cork want recommender algorithms turned off so they only see posts from accounts they choose (vs 68% nationally).

Carrigaline Day of Action

🗓️On Saturday, 14th October, we gathered in McGrath’s hometown of Carrigaline, Co. Cork for a Day of Action. We hung up posters, gathered signatures, and spoke to locals of all ages about their experiences with social media algorithms. We were fortunate to meet and interview Katrina Denehey, a psychologist and children’s mental health specialist who shared her concerns about the harm being done to young people by recommender algorithms. Watch what she had to say here.

University College Cork (UCC) Day of Action

🗓️On Friday, 10th October, we talked to UCC students about their experiences with social media algorithms. A recurring theme in all the interviews was the fact that young people were sick of spending too much time online because of addictive recommender algorithms! Watch the students sharing their view here.

Postcards

Hundreds of us have signed postcards which we’ve posted to Commissioner McGrath’s office in Brussels, urging him to use his powers to make our online spaces healthier and safer by turning off recommender systems by default.

Uplift Briefing TDs at Leinster House

🗓️On Thursday, 16th October, at the invitation of Social Democrat TD Sinéad Gibney, campaigners from Uplift, HCC and ICCL briefed TDs in Leinster House on the findings of our People’s Inquiry on Big Tech Harms and the work being done on the Democracy Shield Campaign. We told TDs that what people want is safe social media that puts the power to choose what they see in their own hand, and that they have the power to put pressure on Commissioner McGrath to turn off recommender systems by default.

We’ve been in the news:

Keeping the pressure on

We know that Commissioner McGrath is feeling the pressure. He’s heard from people all across Ireland that they are sick and tired of big tech corporations profiting from division, hate and addiction and need him to do something now.

But the pressure is also on from the other side. Big Tech bosses and their political ally Donald Trump don’t want to see Commissioner McGrath put people’s interests over their own. We need to keep making our voices heard!