Use Your Voice – Misinformation Event Theatre Royal
On Thursday, 16th October 2025, over 420 young people took part in the “Use Your Voice: Misinformation Event”, aimed at helping them identify and challenge misinformation and disinformation online.
Beat 102-103 delivered an engaging session on media literacy, including how to spot deepfakes and unreliable online sources.
Our MCs for the day, Thomas Harpur and Lily McCarthy — members of Waterford Comhairle na nÓg and The SHY Project — kept the energy high throughout the event.
Music was provided by talented young performers from Music Generation Waterford, including Mollie O’Rourke and Carrie Fitz, who performed their own original songs.
The winners of the Europe Direct Soapbox competition delivered their award-winning speeches on the topic “Should social media be banned for under-16s in the EU?”, sparking thoughtful discussion among attendees.
Erin Hanrahan from Manor Street CYP performed a powerful spoken word piece exploring the influence of social media on young people.
The keynote address was delivered by Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s Media Regulator, highlighting how to report harmful content and how the online space is regulated in Ireland.
Presentations were also given by Waterford Comhairle na nÓg, Waterford SLI, and Artivist MJ, while Kate O’Mahoney, the youngest councillor ever elected in Waterford, shared her inspiring journey into politics.
This event was a collaborative project between Youth Information Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Project and Waterford SLI, promoting digital awareness, creativity, and youth empowerment across the region.
