Information for students
Protecting children and young people from illegal and harmful content online is one of our key priorities. We understand that once a child or young person sees something upsetting or distressing online it can’t be unseen, and it could have lasting negative effects.
Coimisiún na Meán was set up in March 2023 and, since then, new laws and rules have been brought in to help keep children protected from harm online.
Watch our video about your rights under the Online Safety Framework and check out our Student FAQs.
For more information about these new rules and how they are trying to improve online platforms, look at our Online Safety Framework page.
If you’re worried about something you saw online, or you’re wondering how to report to the various online platforms, have a look at our Reporting page. You can also get in touch with our contact centre by emailing [email protected].
If you have other questions about who we are and what we do, see our FAQs for students below. If there are any other questions you might have, get in touch with us at [email protected].
Student FAQs
Here you will find answers to some frequently asked questions from young people regarding the role of Coimisiún na Meán. These are aimed in particular at Leaving Certificate Politics and Society students, but they could also be useful for students of CSPE, SPHE and Digital Media Literacy.
Disclaimer: These responses are intended to provide insight into various aspects of Coimisiún na Meán’s work. The information provided is for general informational purposes and does not contain legal advice. We will try to keep this information as helpful and as up to date as possible.
Overall, as a young person, you have the right to be protected from harm online. You have the right to report illegal or harmful content. Reporting functions should be easy to find and easy to use. When you sign up to a platform, the Terms and Conditions should be easy to understand. As a young person, you have the right not to receive targeted ads and ads should be clearly labelled. These rules also oblige platforms to take measures so that you don’t see harmful content online in the first place.
Illegal content online includes terrorist content, extreme violence, and child sexual abuse material. In general, if something is illegal in the real world, it is also illegal online.
Harmful content online includes cyberbullying, dangerous challenges, content promoting suicide or self-harm, or content promoting eating disorders.
Yes, in the past few years, there have been new rules and laws in Ireland that include the online space. Coco’s Law (or the Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act, 2020) addresses the sharing of intimate images online and malicious cyberbullying.
You need to report this content on the platform where you first saw it. These new rules oblige platforms to take down this illegal content and to make it easy for you to report it. Reporting illegal content online is sometimes a different process to reporting harmful content – you may need to outline the laws that this content breaks in your country.
No. One of the rules (under the Digital Services Act) applies to VLOPs (very large online platforms, e.g. Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn) and VLOSEs (very large online search engines, i.e. Google, Bing) based in Ireland. VLOPs and VLOSEs have over 45 million users in the EU. Platforms and search engines that have fewer than 45 million users also have some obligations under these rules.
The Online Safety Code (OSC) applies to video-sharing platforms that are based in Ireland – these are YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Udemy and X. The Terrorism Content Online Regulation (TCOR) applies to Hosting Service Providers (HSPs). For more information on these various laws, look at legislation explained.
Some platforms allow you to report disinformation. Platforms are not obliged to remove posts that contain misinformation or disinformation. There may be content online that isn’t true, that you don’t agree with, or that you don’t like, but this doesn’t mean that it will be removed if you report it. If this content is not illegal or if it doesn’t go against the platform’s Terms and Conditions, it is unlikely to be removed.
It is important to talk to a trusted adult about issues that concern you online. If you need help assessing if information is accurate or not, have a look at our Be Media Smart website. Here you will find links to fact-checking organisations.
If there is no way to report this content, or if the platform doesn’t reply to you in a timely manner explaining why it removed or didn’t remove content, you have the right to report this to Coimisiún na Meán.
If you report to Coimisiún na Meán, we will ask you further questions so we can look into the issue. Sometimes, we are not the best organisation to help you and we may signpost you to others.
Please note, we don’t have the powers to immediately take down illegal content from the internet. However, if we find a platform is systematically breaking the rules, we can start an investigation. If this investigation finds that the platform has broken the rules, we can impose significant fines. Have a look at our various laws on our Online Safety Framework page.
– It can be a challenge to know if a piece of information is accurate and reliable, especially when there is so much information available from a wide array of sources, including the ever-growing rise of AI-generated content and deepfakes.
– Coimisiún na Meán funds and facilitates Media Literacy Ireland, which, among other things, coordinates the Be Media Smart campaign and website. Young people can check out the content of the Be Media Smart website , as well as the fact-checking information, if they are unsure of information they read or see.
– The key message of this campaign and website is that people STOP, THINK and CHECK when they are consuming any information. The Be Media Smart website contains tips on how to do this, as well as an ‘Ask an Expert’ section where you can ask a range of experts in the fields of academia, journalism, and media any questions you might have. It is good practice to use established media sources, content that is written by trained journalists and where it will have been subject to rigorous editorial checks.
– The more practised we are at checking our sources, the better we can be at recognising when something seems off or incorrect. It’s a lifelong skill that will need to adapt with changing technology.
Threat to democracy
– The spread of mis- and disinformation online can be a real threat to democracy. An example of online disinformation was an image that circulated on social media during the 2023 Dublin riots of Irish army tanks on the streets of the city. This photo was confirmed to have been taken at a previous separate routine army operation in Terenure, and it had no connection to the riots. The veracity of the image was debunked by the Irish Army, as well as by journalists who were present at the riots. Another example of disinformation is the deepfake video of Catherine Connolly that appeared on social media in the run-up to the 2025 Presidential Election. The video falsely stated that Connolly was withdrawing from the election. This post was reported to the platform where it appeared and removed as it was a violation of its Terms and Conditions.
– Coimisiún na Meán supports and conducts research such as the Digital News Report Ireland and our election candidate experience research in order to ensure we have data on how people source, engage with and utilise news content, and understand candidates’ experiences in elections.
– Coimisiún na Meán has also supported the Be Election Smart media literacy campaign, which most recently was relaunched by EDMO Ireland and Media Literacy Ireland ahead of the Presidential Election in 2025 and is aimed at sharing practical tips to help people make informed decisions based on accurate and reliable information.
Impact on election candidates
A study carried out by Coimisiún na Meán in 2024 found that 59% of general election candidates and 48% of local election candidates surveyed had experienced negative online behaviour during their election campaign. This kind of experience can put people off running for election, which can reduce the number of candidates in an election and subsequently the choice available to voters. To help counter this, we developed two information packs – one for candidates running for election and another for journalists, who may be reporting on elections. These packs recognise the important work these two professions do for democracy and they give practical advice on what election candidates and journalists can do if they encounter harmful or illegal content online, including how to report an emergency or crime to An Garda Síochána.
Real-world unrest or violence
Some political content online, including the spread of mis- and disinformation, can lead to acts of real-world unrest and violence, for example the Dublin City riots on 23 November 2023 and the violent protests in City West in late October 2025. Due to the immediate nature of social media, information, including false or unverified information, can be circulated very widely, very quickly. This can result in people being rapidly mobilised, or caught up in these events, and can put people at risk of harm. A key strategic outcome for Coimisiún na Meán is ensuring that Ireland has ‘A media landscape that strengthens public health and safety’. We work closely with An Garda Síochána on matters that affect public safety and actively participate on working groups to try to improve this.
The broadcasting moratorium
In 2024, Coimisiún na Meán announced the replacement of the broadcasting moratorium on coverage of electoral events, which had prevented TV and radio stations from broadcasting content that could influence or manipulate a voter’s decision from 2 p.m. on the day before the poll takes place and throughout the day of the poll itself until polling stations close.
This restriction did not apply to social media, and there were growing concerns around mis- and disinformation being spread online in the run-up to elections. The moratorium was removed and replaced by the Additional Care Requirement for broadcasters during the Critical Election Period, which runs from 7 a.m. on the day before polling begins until polls close on voting day (usually 10 p.m.).
The Additional Care Requirement requires broadcasters to take a higher level of editorial care in their coverage of an electoral event and, in particular, new information relating to an electoral event that it believes, or ought reasonably to believe, has been circulated during this period that appears intended to mislead or confuse voters, or where an inability to verify or accurately report on the new information in a timely manner might similarly mislead or confuse voters.
New EU laws on political advertising
New EU laws on political advertising which came into effect in October 2025 aim to ensure that the public can make informed choices about, for example, referenda and elections, including by making it easier for them to identify political advertising. The labelling of these advertisements is intended to inform the public about the person, group or organisation behind the advertisement and to ensure that they are aware if they have received a targeted political advertisement. The laws also aim to address unlawful interference in elections/referenda including from third countries outside the EU. The new laws provide that:
– paid and/or targeted political advertisements must be labelled as such and provide some key information about them, including their sponsor, the election or referendum to which they are linked, the amounts paid, and any use of targeting techniques.
– targeting of political advertisements online will respect stricter conditions. Data collected from a person can be used only after they have given explicit and separate consent for its use for political advertising. Special categories of personal data, such as data revealing political opinions or racial or ethnic origin, cannot be used for profiling in the context of political advertising.
– to prevent foreign interference, ads paid for by third-country sponsors will not be possible in the three months before an election or referendum in an EU country.
If you see content that you feel breaches this legislation, you can report it to the online platform.
– Some popular features of social media (i.e. algorithmically curated feeds) can contribute to political polarisation, as it can lead to ‘echo chambers’. When people follow or read particular types of content or opinions online, or if they hide or dismiss views they don’t agree with, it can result in them only being exposed to ‘recommended’ opinions and people on their feed that share their views. If people read the same thing over and over, without any challenge, debate or rebuttal, they are likely to believe it more, and this can create polarisation in opinions. Whereas traditional broadcast media are required by broadcasting codes to present balanced coverage of a political issue, social media is not subject to the same standards.
– Under the Online Safety Framework, the largest platforms (over 45 million users a month) are required to provide an option for feeds that isn’t based on profiling.
– As the media regulator, it is Coimisiún na Meán’s role to ensure that platforms are following the rules under the Online Safety Framework. For information on Coimisiún na Meán’s investigations, you can sign up to our news updates here.
Protecting young people
– A key strategic objective of Coimisiún na Meán is to foster and support ‘A media landscape that upholds the rights, wellbeing and development of children and their safe engagement with content’.
– The Media Literacy and User Education Team has created a suite of educational resources for Junior and Senior Cycle students that focus on their rights online under the new Online Safety Framework. These include the right to be protected from illegal and harmful content online and the right to report illegal and harmful content, and the right to privacy.
– Between November 2025 and March 2026, we ran an awareness campaign for young people and parents of young people to raise awareness of their right to report harmful and illegal content online. Our message is that it is never acceptable for young people to see and experience harmful or illegal content online.
– Under the Online Safety Framework, platforms have a responsibility to have reporting measures that are easy to find and easy to use, to confirm receipt of reports and to notify the person who has reported of its decision without undue delay. To accompany our campaign, we also have guides and videos on our website to help people to report illegal and harmful content online.
Tackling misinformation
– Another key strategic outcome of Coimisiún na Meán is ensuring ‘A media landscape that supports democracy and democratic values, underpins civic discourse, and reduces the impact of disinformation’. Ensuring access to reliable information from a variety of sources, and equipping the public with the skills to make informed choices about media content, is vital to tackling disinformation.
– Coimisiún na Meán has a number of Journalism Schemes, comprising The News Reporting Scheme, The Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and Courts Reporting Scheme. These schemes provide funding to supplement and enhance coverage of local authorities and District and Circuit Court hearings, and news reporting that is under-provided for or at risk of under-provision. We understand it is important to offer local, accurate and fact-checked information as a response to mis- and disinformation.
– Coimisiún na Meán also runs the Sound & Vision funding scheme, which provides funding to broadcasters and independent producers to enable the creation of high-quality programming that reflects Irish culture, history, language and diversity. Under this scheme, producers can receive funding under various criteria, one of which is the promotion of media literacy. Media literacy skills enable us to understand and critically evaluate media, which is an antidote to misinformation.
– It is important for young people to see and hear diverse voices in the media, and to feel represented. An inclusive and diverse media that encapsulates a range of voices and experiences is another way to help combat misinformation and protect young people. In 2024, Coimisiún na Meán published its Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for the Audio and Media Sector. This strategy is the first of its kind for the Irish industry and aims to support and foster a media landscape that is representative of, and accessible to, the diversity of Irish society.
The Audio Visual Media Services directive does not apply to audio material including podcasts. The Directive is under revision, however, and Coimisiún na Meán will monitor any changes there.
Under EU law, we are responsible for regulating platforms that have their EU headquarters in Ireland. We also work with regulators that regulate platforms based in other EU countries. If a law changes, or is updated, our duties may change. But if this doesn’t happen, we will continue to monitor and regulate the platforms we currently have responsibility for.
Coimisiún na Meán uses different methods for measuring media literacy. As not all initiatives are the same, it’s important to take the most suitable approach, depending on the initiative.
For example, a media literacy initiative could be one of the following:
– A lesson plan in school
– A workshop for teachers or parents
– A public awareness campaign
The EDMO guidelines have a breakdown of effective media literacy initiatives.
In order to evaluate these, we could carry out the following measures:
– Conduct a survey with students who did the lesson plan
– Interview teachers or parents who attended the workshop
– Set up focus groups to evaluate the public awareness campaign
The Theory of Change can be used to evaluate any media literacy project, activity or educational programme. When creating a media literacy initiative, think about the following:
1. Define the problem: For example, do you want to change attitudes around social media use, or do you want to teach older people about AI?
2. What are you doing about the problem and with whom? For example, are you writing a lesson plan or conducting a group workshop?
3. What differences will your intervention make? Are you hoping to create more awareness of online harms, or help people create more ethical content online?
4. How could these differences contribute to wider societal change? Could this initiative be adapted to other audiences, or expanded for larger audiences?
You can read more about the Theory of Change at the links below:
– www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/making-sense-of-media/evaluate/toolkit/evaluation-toolkit.pdf?v=412905
– iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/7b434899-19fb-4806-bbf5-4d6db72aa0cd/content
– www.bournemouth.ac.uk/sites/default/files/asset/document/ToC-Guide-updated.pdf
– Coimisiún na Meán recognises the potential harm for children and young people caused by online ‘rabbit holes’ which can result from the recommender systems used by platforms.
– Article 27 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) requires providers of online platforms that use recommender systems to set out in plain language in their terms and conditions how these systems work, including the main parameters used and what choices users have to change or influence them.
– Article 28 of the DSA requires online platforms to put in place measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors. This may include making sure that their recommender systems do not cause harm to children.
– Article 34 of the DSA is supervised by the European Commission and requires providers of very large online platforms and search engines to identify, analyse and assess any systemic risks presented by their systems stemming from the design or functioning of their recommender systems.
– If an online platform has several recommender systems that can determine the order of content shown, it must ensure users are given a functionality to select and change their preferred option at any time. We can address the potential dangers of recommender systems through our supervision of the DSA.
– Some of the European Commission’s open investigations under the DSA are specifically looking at the impact of recommender systems on children.
Coimisiún na Meán reports
– Digital News Report Ireland 2026
This report provides internationally comparable data on news consumption, as well as a number of insights into the habits and perceptions of the Irish public.
– On the Digital Campaign Trail
This Coimisiún na Meán report outlines the experience of election candidates in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
– Audience Perspectives on Harmful and Offensive Media Content
The Audience Perspectives on Harmful and Offensive Media Content report assesses the attitudes of adults and children regarding potentially harmful or offensive content on television, radio, cinema, home entertainment, and video-on-demand services.
Government reports
– National Counter Disinformation Strategy
The Strategy explores the challenge of disinformation in Ireland, its harmful effects on society and its complexity as a policy issue.
– Online Health Taskforce
Minister for Health publishes the Final Report of the Online Health Taskforce
The Online Health Taskforce was established in September 2024 in recognition of the growing body of evidence, from Ireland and internationally, showing the link between certain types of online activity and physical and mental health harms to children and young people.
– Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life
Report of the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life – Report as presented to the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach – May 2024
The Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Séan Ó Fearghaíl, and the Cathaoirleach, Senator Jerry Buttimer, established a Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life in response to reports that an increasing level of abuse, including online abuse, harassment and intimidation is being experienced by those who participate in political life. The consequences of abuse, as reflected in national and international studies, are far-reaching for the individuals who experience it and can act as a potential barrier to participation in political life and undermine the democratic process
– Report on the Abuse and Harassment of Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and Political Staff
This report contains the findings of a survey of members of the Oireachtas and political staff, run in February 2024. This is the first-ever survey in Ireland conducted with currently serving Oireachtas members and political staff. The objective of the survey was to examine the prevalence of abuse and harassment (including online abuse), experiences of abuse/harassment, and the impact of abuse and harassment for those who participate in political life.
Disclaimer: The sharing of the following resource does not constitute agreement or endorsement by Coimisiún na Meán of any recommendations or views expressed in the resource, or in other reports or statements of the authors or publishing organisations. It has been included for informational purposes only to help inform the public about how platforms comply with the EU Digital Services Act, including how they address electoral integrity.
Academic research
– Platforms Failing on Electoral Integrity: EDMO Ireland’s Initial Findings
As part of EDMO Ireland’s ongoing review of platform compliance with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) during Ireland’s 2025 Presidential Election, they have shared their initial observations of several concerning trends in how online platforms have addressed electoral integrity.