A leading cyber-psychology expert is calling on authorities to hold social media platforms accountable for hosting videos of reckless and dangerous driving that are being freely shared online in Ireland.
Professor of cyber-psychology Mary Aiken has raised serious concerns about the growing trend of drivers filming themselves speeding, running red lights, and pulling other dangerous stunts on Irish roads before uploading the footage to platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
The core issue, according to the professor, is that social media companies are not doing nearly enough to remove this content quickly or stop it from spreading. In many cases, these videos rack up thousands of views before any action is taken, effectively rewarding dangerous behaviour with online fame.
The concern is not just about the videos themselves. Experts warn that when this kind of content goes viral, it encourages others to copy the behaviour. Young drivers in particular are seen as vulnerable to this influence, with some actively trying to outdo each other for likes and shares.
Road safety advocates in Ireland have long flagged the connection between social media culture and risky behaviour behind the wheel. The idea that someone would put their own life and the lives of others at risk just to get attention online is deeply troubling, but it is a reality that gardai and road safety officials are dealing with more and more.
Ireland already has a serious road safety problem. Fatalities on Irish roads remain a persistent issue despite ongoing campaigns from the Road Safety Authority. Adding social media as a channel that actively promotes dangerous driving into the mix makes the job of keeping roads safe even harder.
The call for action is focused on making platforms legally responsible for this type of content. Right now, social media companies largely operate under frameworks that shield them from liability for what users post. Critics argue this needs to change, and that platforms should face real consequences if they fail to act quickly on videos that clearly show illegal and dangerous activity.
Under current Irish and EU law, platforms are required to remove illegal content when it is flagged, but the process can be slow. By the time a video is taken down, it may have already been shared hundreds of times and saved by other users who can repost it again.
The Digital Services Act, which came into force across the EU, does place stronger obligations on large platforms to tackle harmful content. But campaigners say enforcement needs to be more aggressive, and that dangerous driving videos should be treated with the same urgency as other forms of harmful material.
Gardai have the power to prosecute drivers caught on camera breaking road traffic laws, and footage shared online has actually been used as evidence in some cases. But prosecution after the fact does not undo the damage if someone has already been killed or injured as a result of the reckless behaviour shown in a video.
The professor is urging the government to engage directly with social media companies and push for faster takedown times, stronger detection of this type of content before it even goes live, and clearer penalties for platforms that fail to act.
For many people living near roads where this kind of driving happens, the videos are not just offensive, they are genuinely frightening. Seeing footage of a car tearing through a housing estate or a motorway at dangerous speeds, knowing it happened on roads they use every day, brings the danger very close to home.
The debate around social media responsibility is not new, but the specific focus on dangerous driving content is gaining momentum. With pressure building from road safety groups, psychologists and politicians, social media companies may soon find themselves facing much tougher rules in Ireland when it comes to what they allow on their platforms.