Once upon a time, not so long ago, a child’s universe was bounded by the garden gate, the local park, or the familiar faces of neighbors on a quiet street. Today, that universe is as vast and boundless as the internet itself. In classrooms and living rooms across County Donegal, and indeed the whole of Ireland, children as young as eight are navigating a digital landscape that their parents could scarcely have imagined at the same age. They are not just playing games or watching videos; they are using sophisticated artificial intelligence tools to learn about history, to check facts…

“G’day. Good to see ya. Pull up a chair. Grab a cold one if you’ve got it, because we need to have a serious yarn about what’s been going on down in Canberra this week.” If that greeting sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It opens many videos on a YouTube channel called Oceania Unfiltered, a page that claims to offer “sharp, independent analysis on the political, economic and cultural issues shaping Australia and New Zealand.” The host sits in a room with coloured lights, speaks in broad Australian slang, and spends most of his time attacking Anthony Albanese, praising Pauline…