On 16 October 2025, more than 420 young people attended the Use Your Voice: Misinformation Event, which explored how to recognise, question and challenge misinformation and disinformation online.
Beat 102-103 delivered an engaging media literacy session, covering how to identify deepfakes and assess the reliability of online sources.
The event was hosted by Thomas Harpur and Lily McCarthy, members of Waterford Comhairle na nÓg and The SHY Project, who kept the audience engaged throughout the day.
Creativity and youth expression were central to the programme, with original songs performed by Music Generation Waterford musicians Mollie O’Rourke and Carrie Fitz, and a powerful spoken-word performance by Erin Hanrahan from Manor Street CYP, exploring social media’s influence on young people.
Winners of the Europe Direct Soapbox competition presented their award-winning speeches on “Should social media be banned for under-16s in the EU?”, encouraging critical thinking and debate among attendees.
The keynote address was delivered by Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s Media Regulator, which highlighted how harmful online content can be reported and explained how Ireland’s online media environment is regulated.
Further contributions came from Waterford Comhairle na nÓg, Waterford SLI and Artivist MJ. Kate O’Mahoney, the youngest councillor ever elected in Waterford, also shared her journey into politics, inspiring young people to engage in civic life.
The event was a collaborative initiative between Waterford SLI, Youth Information Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Project, Europe Direct and Waterford Libraries, bringing together media literacy, creativity and youth participation to empower young people to navigate the digital world critically and confidently.
