Social media algorithms branded the ‘evil’ in society as councillors share stories of abuse
Social media algorithms are the “evil” in society today and a threat to local democracy, according to a Tipperary councillor.
The claims were made by independent councillor Seamie Morris at the February meeting of Tipperary County Council, following a presentation from the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG), the councillors’ representative body. AILG president is Cappawhite-based councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan.
At the meeting, Cllr Morris said that it was great to have the AILG and that it felt like someone having the back of local councillors against the hate and vitriol that can be circulated online.
"It’s certainly good to have someone there to have our back,” Cllr Morris said.
"But I want to talk about how difficult it is to be a local councillor, because there’s very little respect for local councillors out there, and unfortunately, we’ve seen a huge amount of ours leave us, particularly since 2014. It’s a really difficult job to do.
"I have someone in hospital belonging to me, and you’d be finding it tough to plough ahead and do things, particularly when you’re doing two jobs. The last week has been very difficult for me, I got more giving out to this week than I have in the last few years, particularly after I told people I had someone in hospital,” Cllr Morris said.
"People don’t care, they just want to vent to you,” he added.
The independent councillor said that in October 2024, his home was attacked when his daughter was inside, and said that security allowances for councillors had become an important element of the role.
“Security allowances are very important. It’s easy for the media to say ‘councillors are getting this, and that,’ but we’re to the forefront of people’s anger, and there is real anger out there,” he said.
"This Government has to do something about the algorithms that are driving anger on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). I beg that our Government do something with the social media content providers because algorithms are driving hate.
“It could be hate over the smallest thing, but if you continue to look at social media and continue to look at the same thing, social media will throw the same viewpoint at you. People are totally intolerant now,” he added.
A huge problem in the world nowadays is that people can’t look at other people’s point of view, the independent councillor said, calling on the AILG to lobby Government to talk to social media companies about this.
"The algorithms are the evil in our country at the moment. They’re the greatest enemy to local democracy out there, because we could be doing the best job in the world, but all it takes is one person that hasn’t even the courage to put their own name on social media to drive hate,” Cllr Morris told the meeting.
Agreeing, Fine Gael councillor Mark Fitzgerald said that the anger online actively discourages him from posting anything on social media.
"I actually dread even doing a formal post on social media because of the negativity it's going to draw,” he said.
"It’s an awful pity because you want to inform people of something in the area, and especially with the horrendous weather over the last few months, you want to inform people about a dangerous stretch of road that is awaiting repair, and you just get this complete negativity,” he said.
The issue has gotten worse over the years, Cllr Fitzgerald said, adding that when he first got elected, it wasn’t as bad.
“People are so angry and social media companies just have people in this constant circle of anger, anger anger, and I think this is something very important that the AILG should raise at the higher levels,” the Carrick-on-Suir councillor said.
Responding to her council colleagues, AILG president and Fine Gael councillor Mary Hanna Hourigan said that she flat-out refuses to be on social media anymore due to abuse and bullying she received in the past.
"I’m probably unique in that I’m probably the only councillor here that’s not on social media, I haven’t been for years because of terrible bullying I got, and it wasn’t just on social media, but people came to my house and committed a personal attack. Whatever about me, but on my family.
“After that, I came off social media. I know I’m at a disadvantage, because we had a major water burst in west Tipperary recently, and I had to take to the phone to ring people to let them know, and a lot of the public probably think I’m not working on their behalf because I’m not sending out the message, but that’s fine, it’s my choice,” Cllr Hourigan said.
"I will never be on social media and it probably is a disadvantage, but for my own mental health and to protect myself and my family I think it’s the safest place to be,” she said.