Social Media

Civil liberties group calls for change in implementation of 'toxic’ social media algorithms

ICCL has urged Media Commission to mandate recommender algorithms are not activated by default, claiming they spread hate

ICCL claims recommender algorithms, which suggest content to users that is either trending or similar to other content they viewed, can put hateful and divisive material into peoples’ social media feeds. Picture: Getty

Social media users must be provided with a chance to opt out of “hazardous” recommender algorithms, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said.

In a submission to the Media Commission, the group said platforms like YouTube, Facebook and TikTok have created algorithms that select what people see on each platform.

The ICCL has called on the Media Commission to mandate that these recommender algorithms are not activated by default and only activated if ...