Paula represented NIRWN at the Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Engagement Forum in Omagh, which explored the theme of Social Media and its Impact on Good Relations.

The event featured a diverse range of speakers and a panel and small group discussions, examining both the opportunities and challenges posed by online platforms in shaping community relations, promoting inclusion, and addressing division.

Policy Relevance

• Social media continues to play a pivotal role in influencing perceptions, behaviours, and inter-community dialogue.
• Risks include the spread of misinformation, polarisation, and online hate, which can undermine good relations work.
• At the same time, social media offers significant potential for outreach, engagement, and the amplification of positive narratives around equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Understanding the digital dimension of good relations is critical for rural women, who may face barriers to safe and equitable online participation. Insights from this forum will inform NIRWN’s ongoing contribution to policy discussions on peacebuilding, equality, and digital inclusion.