Free Speech vs Public Safety: Should Ireland Ban X? Episode 620

Niall sits down with veteran journalist David Quinn to unpack a Business Post poll that’s shaking up the social media debate in Ireland — one that suggests an overwhelming majority of people want Twitter/X banned in Ireland.

We dig into what the poll really says, what it doesn’t say, and what it would mean for freedom of speech, public safety, politics and everyday digital life. Is the call to ban X a genuine reflection of public concern over harmful content — like the recent controversy around AI-generated nudity and child safety issues — or simply a reaction to bad headlines?

📊 We’ll explore:
• How popular X actually is in Ireland — including that it reaches roughly 35–42 % of the population (about 1.8 million people), even if other platforms like Facebook and Instagram dominate the market.
• What demographics use it most, and whether usage is dropping or shifting.
• Pros of the platform — real-time news, public conversation and emergency info sharing.
• Cons — lax moderation, polarized debate, misinformation and wellbeing concerns linked to passive use.

💬 Should Ireland really ban Twitter/X?
Niall and David go beyond the headlines, weighing free speech values against digital harm, and asking: would banning a platform solve the problems people are upset about — or just push them somewhere else?

Tune in for stats, sharp debate, and a verdict you might not expect.