Research programme
We are currently developing our Research Strategy, which will set out our approach to research and our research priorities over the coming years. Our current research programme has four strands:
Strand 1: Regulatory policy & platform supervision
- A literature review on social media usage and children’s mental health – and interventions aimed at promoting online safety and child wellbeing.
- Scoping research on elections, democracy and disinformation.
- A three-yearly report on media ownership and control.
- A nationally representative survey of children and parents to establish a primary source of high-quality and comprehensive evidence to better understand the risks and benefits of the digital environment as experienced by children. This research will provide a baseline for mapping access and usage of digital tools and technologies, skills and digital competence, experiences of online risks and harm, and the role of the wider environment in mediating online safety.
Strand 2: Media development & broadcasting / video-on-demand
- Mixed methods research exploring public attitudes regarding media content that may cause harm or offence, and public awareness levels and expectations regarding regulatory responses to that content.
- Mixed methods research on the broadcast on radio of music composed and performed by women.
- Collaborative research with Sport Ireland in relation to sports media engagement, with a specific focus on gender inclusion.
- Reuters Digital News Report Ireland.
- A review of the provision of Irish language in media.
Strand 3: Public service media & media funding
- Developing a research strategy to understand the media consumption habits of Irish audiences, as well as their attitudes towards and expectations of Public Service Media (PSM). This will underpin the work of the PSM team as they map out a new regulatory framework for Public Service Media in Ireland.
Strand 4: Article 40 Data Access
- The research team is managing the process design and implementation of Article 40 (4-11) Vetted Researcher Data Access. This work complies with our obligations as a Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) under Article 40 (4-11) of the Digital Services Act .
Given our current stage of development as an organisation, many projects are at scoping stage. Our research programme will evolve in the coming months as greater clarity emerges in relation to the research needs of the organisation.