Tag: Social Media

Over two thirds of women led businesses in Ireland using AI

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a routine part of how women‑led businesses operate, according to new data from Network Ireland released ahead of its national International Women’s Day event at the Limerick Strand Hotel this Saturday.

The survey of 1,400 members of the country’s largest business networking organisation for women shows that 68% of respondents now use AI in some form, most commonly in marketing, finance or HR. The trend is set to continue, with 72% planning to increase their use of the technology this year, despite two out of three respondents saying they are worried about regulatory or ethical issues linked to AI.

Rising operational pressures are also evident. 76% say costs have increased this year, driven primarily by labour (32%), energy (17%), taxation/compliance (15%), supply‑chain input (13%), insurance (4%) and commercial rates (3%).

Inflation pressures (38%) remain the biggest risk for 2026, followed by a domestic economic slowdown (29%), global instability (21%) and access to finance (5%). Customer demand trends are mixed, with 47% reporting stronger customer demand than in 2025, 31% saying it is unchanged and 22% reporting weaker demand.

LinkedIn and Instagram remain the most important platforms for business growth, with eight in ten business owners posting regularly. The main objectives for social media use are brand awareness (42%), lead generation (30%), community building (14%), direct sales (12%) and recruitment (2%).

Network Ireland’s International Women’s Day event will be headlined by entrepreneur and social innovator Sonya Lennon, who will join speakers from fashion, global sport and enterprise to discuss what it takes to build resilient brands in competitive markets. The programme will also explore the concept of brand wellness, ensuring that as organisations scale, the people behind them remain supported.

The event is supported by AIB, Limerick City and County Council and Enterprise Ireland. Down Syndrome Limerick, the President’s chosen charity partner, will be represented by speaker Annie Conway.

Karen Ronan, Network Ireland President and CEO of Galway Chamber, said the survey findings underline the importance of this year’s International Women’s Day theme.

“Building bridges is about creating access to opportunity, to confidence and to leadership,” she said. “Women are adapting to new technologies and new market realities at pace. Our role is to make sure they have the networks and support to grow with confidence.”

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, commented, “International Women’s Day urges us to turn celebration into action, ensuring that equality, respect and opportunity are not aspirations, but realities for all. Network Ireland continues to champion women who lead, innovate and uplift others. I particularly want to commend Limerick native Karen Ronan for her work as President of Network Ireland, while wishing Barbara MacCarthy the very best of luck in her term as Limerick branch President throughout 2026.”

Geraldine Casey, Managing Director of Retail Banking at AIB, said, “At AIB, we believe that when women in business thrive, our communities and our economy thrive with them. International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that progress happens when ambition is supported by access to finance, to networks and to opportunity. AIB plays a vital role in creating those connections, and we look forward to continuing to champion female entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainable growth across Ireland.”

Sarah Walker, Senior Executive, Enterprise Ireland, said, “Enterprise Ireland is focused on increasing the number of women who start, lead and grow businesses, and we are delighted to support Network Ireland in hosting this year’s International Women’s Day event. Through our investments and initiatives, including the Going for Growth, NextWave, WeBuild, WeGrow and WeScale Shared Island programmes, we aim to give women the skills, networks and funding routes they need to scale. When women succeed in business, the benefits are felt across communities and the wider economy.”

Established in 1983, Network Ireland supports more than 1,400 female entrepreneurs, SME owners and senior professionals across sectors ranging from multinational business to non-profits, the arts and the public sector. Visit networkireland.ie for more.

Almost one in four people in Ireland have set screen limits on their devices

Smartphone use remains deeply woven into the daily lives of people of all ages in Ireland, but levels of digital fatigue are increasing, Deloitte’s latest Digital Consumer Trends survey reveals.

In the last year, almost one-quarter of respondents (24%) have set screen time limits on their phones.

Needing a break was the top reason respondents gave for deleting a social media app (27%), and one-quarter did it because they stopped using the app.

23% said the app they deleted was consuming too much of their time and the same amount said they were getting too many ads or sponsored posts.

Misinformation (22%), a negative impact on mental health (18%), and content being boring (16%) were the other top reasons for deleting an app.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) switched off all notifications from one or more apps in the past year, 21% stopped using a digital wearable, 19% stopped using a digital device, and 17% stopped reading e-books on digital devices.

Nearly half of Gen Zs joined a social media app (46%) but nearly one-in-three (32%) said they had deleted an existing app from their device. The joining and deleting of social media apps is lower amongst other generations.

  Joined a social media app Deleted a social media app
Millennials 27% 29%
Gen X 16% 26%
Boomers 12% 18%

 

70% of respondents said they tend to spend too much time on their phone. This breaks down to 77% of Gen Zs, 78% of Millennials, 73% of Gen X and 48% of Boomers.

82% of those surveyed said they check their smartphone at least 10 times a day and 59% said at least 25 times. Over a third (34%) said they check their phone at least 50 times a day and 15% said they do so at least 100 times.

60% of phone owners look at their phone within 15 minutes or less after waking up, which is down from 65% in 2024. More than half (54%) stay awake later than planned due to using their mobile phone.

Majority of adults say children are ready for smartphones by 12-15, but also favour social media usage limits for those under 18

82% of people in Ireland said they would support social media platforms introducing usage limitations for those under 18.

More than half (57%) would ‘strongly favour’ social media platforms requiring age verification when registering and (56%) would ‘strongly favour’ introducing usage limitations for people under the age of 18.

Despite this, most adults (58%) feel the appropriate age for a first smartphone is between 12 to 15 years old.

Nearly one-in-three (32%) believe children should get their first smartphone at 12-13 years of age and more than a quarter (26%) believe they should be 14-15. Only 4% believe the devices should not be given to under 18s and 22% believe they should be given to those aged 16 or older.

Nearly half (43%) of respondents think a teenager should be 16 or older to have access to social media.

Close to one-quarter (24%) think those with social media access should be 14-15, while 16% said 12-13 years of age. Just 4% said 10-11 years and only 8% believe social media should not be available to those aged under 18.

Gen Zs prefer to get their news from social media, but more people are reporting an increase in misinformation

The survey shows misinformation continues to rise as 59% now say they more regularly see fake information online – up from 53% in 2024 and 46% in 2023

Despite such concerns, nearly half of Gen Zs (47%) say they prefer to get their news from social media and only 34% of this generation say the same for TV. This compares to 44% of Millennials, 65% of Gen X and 75% of Boomers saying their preferred source for news is TV.

54% of Boomers and 47% of Gen X prefer to stay updated on news and current events using radio, in contrast to 29% of Millennials and 19% of Gen Z.

Just 2% of Boomers prefer podcasts, while this figure is 14% across the three other generations surveyed.

Commenting on the Digital Consumer Trends findings, John Kehoe, a Deloitte Ireland partner who has worked on the Digital Consumer Trends report for seven years, said: “With 60% of us looking at our phones within minutes of waking up, it’s clear that our smartphones continue to play a crucial role in our modern-day lives. But the number of respondents who say they either need a break from social media, are turning their notifications off, or setting screen time limits, shows that how we engage with our devices is changing. The fascinating findings of Deloitte’s Digital Consumer Trends Survey poses the question – are we entering the age of the digital detox?”

How to Protect Yourself Against Romance Scams

As Valentine’s Day, February 14, approaches, organizations across countries, including the FBI in the US, warn people to be aware of romance scams, where cybercriminals create fake identities and manipulate people into sending money. Cybersecurity experts urge users to be particularly cautious this year, as AI enables even more realistic scams, and are offering tips on how to stay safe.

At the start of February, Nigerian police arrested a local cybercriminal for allegedly being involved in a large-scale romance scam. The man posed as “Travis Kevin,” a doctor from the US on Facebook and Instagram, and asked his victims for money for medical supplies in crypto, promising to repay them soon.

The FBI, UK police, and organizations in other countries have recently issued warnings to be cautious about similar Romance scenarios.

A previous report from the US Federal Trade Commission estimated that romance scams in the US alone cost users over a billion dollars back in 2023. Experts at Planet VPN, a VPN provider that emphasizes free service, claim that since then, these types of scams have increased both in numbers and sophistication.

Konstantin Levinzon, co-founder of Planet VPN, says that offenders typically employ tactics such as emotional manipulation and false promises of love or partnership, before fabricating emergencies or investment opportunities.

“Cybercriminals create fake identities on dating sites and social media using psychological manipulation to convince victims to send money. They are increasingly relying on generative AI tools to make their scams more convincing. With AI enabling the creation of fake images and videos with just a click, users should be particularly cautious,” Levinzon says.

A recent report from British bank TSB claims that people aged 65-74 were involved in the most romance fraud cases (23%), with those over 55 making up 58% of cases overall.

Meanwhile, social media platforms were linked to 58% of cases, while dating sites were involved in 42%. The data shows that 30% of scams were connected to Facebook, the highest among all platforms.

Levinzon emphasizes that when it comes to protection from scammers, the same principles apply across all platforms.

“Be suspicious of anyone you’ve never met in person – that’s the only safe approach in a digital world increasingly filled with scams,” says Levinzon. “If someone you meet on a dating site seems suspicious, perform a reverse image search to check if their pictures are stolen from other sources. And if the conversation shifts to money, or if someone asks for personal information, leave the conversation immediately.”

To maximize protection, Levinzon advises using a VPN network. Some scammers can track users’ locations and then try to target them with personalized scams based on their country. When a VPN is turned on, it hides the person’s IP address and location, and encrypts all the data, making it invisible even to your internet service provider.

“For maximum security online, we also advise using strong passwords for all your social media accounts and dating sites, and enabling multifactor authentication. In addition, ensure that your privacy settings on social media platforms are set to the highest level, and limit who can see your posts and personal details,” Levinzon says.

Women’s Aid Ends Use of X

Women’s Aid, a national organisation working to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse including coercive control in Ireland, will no longer maintain a presence on the platform X from 8th January 2026.

The organisation has watched the increased levels of unchecked hate, misogyny, racism and anti-LGBTI+ content on the platform with growing unease and concern. The current scandal which has seen the creation and sharing of AI deepfakes, non-consensual intimate imagery, and production of child sexual abuse material by X’s own AI Grok, in breach of the platforms own guidelines and regulations is a tipping point.

This online violence against women and children – especially girls – has often devastating real life impacts and we no longer view it as appropriate to use such a platform to share our work.

This has not been an easy decision. Women’s Aid was an early user of social media, including Twitter/X since 2009. We have engaged with and informed our supporters of the prevalence and impact of domestic abuse, promote our frontline support services to those affected and push for positive social change.

We firmly believe that social media platforms have a crucial role to play in a healthy society, providing crucial townhall spaces for thoughtful, respectful, constructive and positive dialogue. By leaving we acknowledge that we are ceding the stage to the malign actors, and bots who will continue to overrun the space creating and spreading disinformation and other harmful content with effective impunity. However, as an organisation working to end violence against women and children, we balance the costs with any benefits to our continued engagement in this space and find we can no longer tolerate this situation.

While we have reduced leverage on this platform, we call on Governments and Regulators in both Ireland and at EU level to act swiftly and decisively to create effective accountability, legislation and regulation to ensure companies must have guardrails that protect truth, and prevent harm so that in the future any user can use X, and any online platform safely.

Bank of Ireland warns customers of ads impersonating well-known retailers

Bank of Ireland is warning customers about social media advertisements currently in circulation which are impersonating well-known retailers offering deals and bargains.

With online shopping at its peak during the holidays, fraudsters are increasingly targeting consumers through scam social media advertisements. These ads often impersonate well-known retailers, luring shoppers with fake offers and directing them to counterfeit websites designed to steal personal and financial information.

The Bank is also reminding customers that its dedicated fraud support team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Christmas and New Year. Last year Bank of Ireland’s fraud prevention team received over 10,000 calls from customers during the peak holiday period (23 December to 29 December), with 550 calls on Christmas day alone.

Key advice for consumers:

  • Be cautious of social media ads that look too good to be true.
  • Always verify that you are shopping on the official website of a retailer.
  • Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages or posts – go to the retailer’s website for offers.
  • If you suspect fraud, contact Bank of Ireland immediately.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: “Christmas should be a time of joy, not worry. Unfortunately, fraudsters see this season as an opportunity to exploit consumers, and we’re seeing many fake adverts currently which are impersonating well known retailers. Our fraud team is working around the clock, even over the Christmas and New Year period, to support customers. If something feels suspicious, trust your instincts and reach out to us straight away.”

Bank of Ireland customers can call the fraud team 24/7 on Freephone 1800 946 764.

Dowdetector by Ookla: Largest Outages of 2025

In 2025, digital services proved both indispensable and fragile. This year’s largest outages were defined by platform-level disruptions, particularly across video, gaming, and communication platforms, that impacted millions of users. However, given how many individual platforms rely on the same few cloud providers and core systems, the role of centralized infrastructure also played a key role, demonstrating how a single point of failure can still cause disruption to cascade across multiple services simultaneously.

Downdetector® data from 2025 Ookla could analyze millions of user reports and identify the largest website and service outages of the year.

The World’s Biggest Outages of 2025

2025 saw a combination of major outages across gaming, streaming, and social media services, but none were more impactful than the cloud services outages that affected companies across the globe. These large-scale incidents underscored how failures in core infrastructure can ripple outward to millions of users. Here is a look at the largest global outages of 2025, according to Downdetector data.

 

In Europe:

 

  • PlayStation Network global issue topped the EU list with 1.7 million reports.
  • Snapchat saw the second-highest outage activity in the region with 989,559 reports submitted by users.
  • Vodafone’s UK-wide internet outage generated 833,211 reports.
  • WhatsApp caused significant disruption for its users with 621,763 reports.
  • Spotify’s outage recorded 468,334 reports, making it a major non-video streaming event.
  • Odido experienced, within 10 days, two separate outages that totaled 357,685 reports (June 15th) and 382,003 reports (June 25th).

See more 

Google Year in Search results moments that captured Ireland’s attention in 2025

As the year draws to a close, Google’s Year in Search reveals the questions we asked Google, the people who caught our interest, and the everyday curiosities we wanted to solve.

For a country obsessed with weather it’s no surprise that the record breaking Storm Eowyn, was the most searched term of the year. The storm which hit Ireland in January was one of the most powerful and widespread wind events to hit Ireland since the 1800s. People also turned to Google to find out how to pronounce the storm’s name with ‘How to pronounce Eowyn’ as the third most popular ‘How to’ search term.

Asking Google questions is an everyday occurrence for most people. In a year where Ireland welcomed a new President for the first time in 14 years, the election had a big impact on the most searched lists. People used Google to not only find out more about Ireland’s new President, Catherine Connolly, who was the third most searched overall term and most searched person this year but also the presidential election in general. Ireland’s presidential election featured on the most searched list and in the ‘How To’ list, ‘How to spoil your vote Ireland’ was the second most searched term while ‘How to register to vote in Ireland’ was the fifth most searched term.

2025 was another huge year for sport. The Ryder Cup, in which Europe was victorious, was the second most searched term overall and football and rugby also featured on the most searched list. Champions League is the fifth most searched term, the Club World Cup is the sixth and Ireland v France rounded out the list.

The Top 10 Most Googled recipe list gives us a glimpse into what Ireland has been up to in the kitchen. This year Ireland leaned into comfort and creativity with coffee topping the list followed by the social-media hit, Dubai Chocolate.  Three cocktails bubbled up the chart; the Pornstar Martini, Hugo Spritz and Pimms. Pancakes, Gooseberry Jam and Cupcakes also featured on the list.

2025 was the year of TV shows people couldn’t stop talking about or searching. Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Adolescence were the most searched TV shows and they also featured on the overall most searched list showing their popularity. Google Search also helped people decide what to see in the cinema this year with Nosferatu, 28 Years Later and Superman all featuring at the top of the most searched Movie list.

Everyday questions and timely answers are what millions of people seek on Google every day. From health and wellbeing to social media trends and sports, Search helps Ireland navigate the practicalities of daily life and understand what’s shaping the news .‘What is Listeria?’ topped the ‘What is’ list and other trending questions asked by the Irish public were ‘What is 6 7?’ and ‘What is a tariff?’.

Search can help you find a world of information – and the way people use Search can be a window into the world. Take a closer look at this year’s trending lists at yearinsearch.google

 -Top trending searches refer to queries with the highest amount of traffic over a sustained period in 2025 as compared to 2024.

Top Overall

People

Storm Eowyn

Catherine Connolly

Ryder Cup

Maria Steen

Catherine Connolly

Jim Gavin

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Belle Gibson

Champions League

DJ Carey

Club World Cup

Alexander Isak

Iran

Garron Noone

Adolescence

Andy Byron

Ireland Presidential Election

Conor Loftus

Ireland v France

Stephen Graham

Losses

Sports

Charlie Kirk

Ryder Cup

Ozzy Ozbourne

Champions League

Diogo Jota

Ireland v France

Gene Hackman

Liverpool F.C

Diane Keaton

Liverpool vs Man United

Hulk Hogan

Ireland v Scotland

Ricky Hatton

India vs England

Michelle Trachtenberg

FIFA Club World Cup

Val Kilmer

Liverpool vs PSG

Robert Redford

Lions

TV Shows

Movies

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Nosferatu

Adolescence

28 Years Later

House of Guinness

Superman

Traitors Ireland

Happy Gilmore 2

Say Nothing

Minecraft

Mobland

Sinners

Dept. Q

Anora

Severance

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

The Last of Us

One Battle After Another

Squid Game

Weapons

Tech

Recipes

iphone 17

Coffee

Amazon.ie

Dubai Chocolate

Deepseek

Pornstar Martini

Wplace

Pancake

Chat GPT free

Gooseberry jam

Strands

Hugo Spritz

Maths solver

Pork fillet

TikTok banned

Pimms

Grok

Cupcakes

Switch 2

Plum Chutney

What is

How to

What is listeria

How to bottle feed a breastfed baby

What is 6 7

How to spoil your vote Ireland

What is the warehouse

How to pronounce Eowyn

What is adolescence about

How to watch Europa League final in Ireland

What is polytrauma

How to register to vote in Ireland

What is americano coffee

How to watch Club World Cup

What is halal meat

How to clear cache on Chrome

What is Tylenol

How to opt out of organ donation Ireland

What is Tai Chi walking

How to watch Ballon d’Or 2025

What is a tariff

How to make Dubai chocolate

 

CCPC warns of surge in online scams for Irish consumers

Irish consumers are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated online scams, according to a new set of case studies released by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The warning comes as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the busiest shopping period of the year, creating prime opportunities for scammers to steal from unsuspecting shoppers.

With recent research revealing that almost 40% surveyed expect to make a purchase in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, the CCPC is advising consumers to be extra vigilant and to stop and think before rushing into making a purchase.

The case studies, which date between November 2024 and August 2025, reveal losses ranging from €42 to €20,000 and highlight the wide range of methods used to scam consumers. These include fake websites, phishing emails, fraudulent job offers, rental accommodation scams, and investment fraud.

The CCPC is warning consumers to be especially wary of ads on social media, as scammers are using convincing clones of trusted websites and fake local shops to trick shoppers. To stay safe, always purchase through the retailer’s official website or app rather than clicking on the social media link.

Stop, search and stay safe 

To help consumers shop safely during the peak shopping season, the CCPC advises following three simple steps:

  • Stop: Scammers often create urgency to pressure quick decisions. If something feels off or too good to be true, stop and think before engaging further.
  • Search: Remember that logos, “about us” pages and imagery on websites can be fabricated. Always take a minute to check sites like Trustpilot or Reddit for independent reviews.
  • Stay safe:
    • Watch out for common red flags, including unusually large discounts – “up to 80% off”, unfamiliar websites, recently created social media profiles, and all five-star reviews.
    • Always use a credit card, debit card or trusted payment provider, rather than a direct bank transfer.

Grainne Griffin, director of communications at the CCPC said: 

“As the busiest shopping season of the year kicks off, it’s important that consumers avoid rushing into online purchases and transactions. Online scams have become more and more sophisticated, using convincing images and stories and carefully tailoring their ads to seem like they’re a trustworthy business.

“For the sake of your finances and your safety, take care when shopping online. Don’t let tactics like time-sensitive offers or countdown clocks pressure you into making a decision you might regret.

“Do your research, take your time, and don’t take risks, no matter how tempting the deal – you can lose an awful lot of money in just a few clicks. Always use a credit card, debit card or trusted payment provider like PayPal, rather than a direct bank transfer.”

What to do if you’ve been scammed when shopping online  

If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. You may be able to initiate a chargeback and get your money back, and you may need to freeze your card to prevent further money being taken. An Garda Síochána are responsible for pursuing scam operators so contact your local Garda office and report it and of course you can ask us as many do each year.

For information on the different types of scams and how to spot them, visit ScamUniversity.ie.

Irish consumers 6x more likely to be scammed by falling for AI fakes

The scale and sophistication of fraudulent advertising and AI-generated scams on social media are growing rapidly, making it harder than ever for people to know what’s real. New research from Visa in Ireland reveals that people who mistake fake AI-generated content for real are six times more likely to be tricked by scammers online than those who don’t (73% vs. 12%). This highlights how digital misinformation directly increases vulnerability and underscores the importance of collective action to protect consumers and restore trust in digital platforms.
In Ireland, Visa found that people who are affected by online scams typically lose €124.50 per incident (median amount), costing the Irish economy an estimated €71.8 million annually. The impact goes beyond financial loss, causing emotional distress, increased anxiety and reduced productivity. On average, victims of online scams spend around 8.9 days resolving the issue – which is 44% of the working month.
The way people engage with content online plays a major role. Those who share a post without checking its accuracy first, are five times more likely to be targeted and impacted by online scams compared to those who tend to take a moment to verify it first (35% vs. 6%). Everyday online habits – such as skimming headlines, resharing without verifying and trusting AI-generated content – are creating new vulnerabilities that scammers are quick to exploit:
  • 59% have believed online content was genuine only to later discover it was an AI-generated fake
  • Over a third (38%) rarely read beyond a headline before forming an opinion
  • Almost a quarter (23%) have reshared a post without checking its accuracy
The ripple effect of online scams
As online scams grow more sophisticated and widespread, this shift in consumer behaviour is having a tangible impact on the wider economy. Almost half (42%) have changed how they shop online after being scammed and one in two people (50%) targeted by online shopping scams say they now avoid shopping with smaller or unfamiliar brands.
This is having a particularly significant impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which account for 99.8% of Ireland’s business population and depend heavily on consumer confidence to survive and grow2.
Stepping up the fight against fraud
Visa is stepping up the fight against social media scams – combining decades of experience with cutting-edge technology and working closely with banks, retailers, and digital platforms to restore trust in online commerce.
AI has been central to Visa’s approach to fraud prevention. For over 30 years, the company has used AI powered tools to help keep payments secure and stay ahead of evolving threats. In the last five years alone, Visa has invested $12 billion in technology, including building smart, AI-powered systems that detect suspicious behaviour in real time and stop scams before they reach people.
Awareness is as critical as technology. With almost two in five (39%) people believing AI will make scams harder to spot on social media, Visa is taking proactive steps to close that gap. Tackling fraud requires a united front, and Visa is committed to collaborating across the ecosystem to set new standards for consumer protection.
By working closely with banks, retailers and platforms to ensure consumers have the right advice at their fingertips, Visa is helping people recognise an AI-generated scam, understand how they work, and stay safe in an increasingly AI-driven digital world. Because the more informed people are, the harder it is for scammers to succeed.
Visa is calling on all stakeholders – platforms, banks, retailers and policymakers – to work together to raise the bar for digital trust and consumer protection.
Conor Langford, Visa Country Manager for Ireland said: “AI is transforming how we live, shop, work and connect, but it’s also reshaping the landscape for fraud. Scammers are using the same technology that brings us innovation to deceive and exploit consumers, blurring the line between real and fake. These scams can hurt real people, costing not just money but peace of mind and trust. At Visa, we’re investing in AI-driven fraud prevention and working hand-in-hand with our partners across the ecosystem to strengthen digital trust. The more informed people are, the safer our digital economy becomes. Together, we can build a more secure digital future for everyone.”
Elaine Burke, Tech journalist & host of the For Tech Sake podcast, warns: “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to be certain of what’s real and what’s not online. Social media feeds are flooded with content generated using AI, which is not always disclosed. This same generative AI has made it easier for scammers to create content that looks completely convincing and blends into feeds where AI slop has become the norm. Scammers can even selectively target those who interact with this type of content, knowing they are more likely to engage with it. That’s why education and awareness are so important. The more aware you are of scammers’ methods, the less likely you are to become their next success story.”
Spot the Scam: Five Smart Ways to Stay Safe on Social Media
Question the source
Scammers often mimic legitimacy with fake business pages, slick ads, AI-generated celebrity endorsements, and convincing personal messages. These tactics can look incredibly real. Before you click, pause and ask: Is this trustworthy? A moment of doubt can save you from a costly mistake.
Take a breath
Urgency is a scammer’s best friend. Promises of free gifts, massive discounts, or “limited-time” offers are designed to rush your decision. Instead, slow down. Check if the offer is realistic, research the company, read reviews and visit the official brand website before sharing any personal information.
Verify the sender – not just the profile
A message from a friend, influencer, or organisation asking for money or personal details? Don’t assume it’s legit. Confirm independently: call the person, use a verified website, or contact the business directly. Scammers often hijack real accounts to appear authentic.
Stay secure and report suspicious activity
Protect your accounts by turning on extra security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible. Keep your apps and devices updated and regularly review your privacy settings. If you spot a suspicious ad, post or account, report it to the social platform – and to your bank if money is involved.
Pay securely – or not at all
Never share your bank details over social media. If someone asks you to send money via bank transfer, it’s likely a scam. Always use secure payment methods that offer buyer protection. If that’s not an option, walk away.
For more information on how to pay safely, please visit: www.visa.ie/pay-safely-with-visa.html