STUDENTS from Ysgol Greenhill in Tenby have taken part in the FIRST Tech Challenge UK & Ireland competition, showcasing their engineering and computing skills at a national robotics event.

The Tenby Techno Team travelled to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s School of Applied Computingwhere teams from across the UK and Ireland gathered to compete in the international robotics programme.

The competition challenges students to design, build and programme robots capable of completing tasks on a specialist arena, testing both technical ability and teamwork.

The Tenby team said they were proud to be competing and were supported during the event by former computing students Issac, Ieuan and Finley, who returned to help the team as volunteers.

Organisers of the programme say the FIRST Tech Challenge aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while building practical problem-solving skills.

The team also thanked Valero Pembroke Refinery and Tenby Round Table for sponsoring the project, along with Marc Ingram, who provided advice and guidance during the build and preparation stages.

More updates from the competition are expected as the event progresses.

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN joined students from schools across Pembrokeshire for a careers event aimed at inspiring the next generation of workers in the region.

The event, organised by the SPARC Alliance, took place at the Canolfan Arloesedd y Bont / Bridge Innovation Centre. Pupils were given the opportunity to learn about a range of career opportunities available at the port and the wider maritime sector.

Representing the Port of Milford Haven were Pilot Jamie Furlong, Project Manager Claire Lawrence, Environmental & Sustainability Assistant Bethan Davie, HR Director Vidette Swales and Stakeholder Engagement Executive Emily Jones.

Students spoke directly with the team about different roles within the organisation and the skills needed to work in areas such as shipping operations, project management, environmental work and stakeholder engagement.

The Port thanked the SPARC Alliance for hosting the event and said supporting initiatives that connect young people with employers and highlight opportunities in Pembrokeshire is something it is proud to be part of.

SOCIAL media influencers can significantly increase the spread and toxicity of misinformation online, according to new research led by academics at Cardiff Business School.

The study, published in the journal Psychology & Marketing, analysed brand-related misinformation and associated user comments across forty-seven brands in nine industries over a three-year period. Researchers say it is the first study to measure how online toxicity differs when misinformation comes from influencers rather than ordinary users.

Brands increasingly rely on social media influencers to reach audiences, with spending on influencer marketing hitting a record $33bn in 2025. While influencers can drive engagement and sales, the communities built around them can also amplify inaccurate claims and direct hostility towards brands.

The research found that regular social media users who spread misinformation are often challenged or criticised by other users. As a result, discussions tend to become more civil over time as inaccuracies are corrected.

Influencers, however, face the opposite incentive. Their visibility, engagement and profits often increase when posts generate controversy or strong emotional reactions.

The analysis found that online toxicity was particularly high when influencers discussed socio-political issues, where public emotions and stakes are greater.

Lead author Dr Giandomenico Di Domenico said: “Social media influencers often have huge followings that are extremely valuable for brands seeking to increase sales.

“But our research shows the negative consequences when influencers endorse or amplify misinformation. Under the same conditions that increase their visibility and influence, influencers also generate significantly more toxic engagement than regular users.”

He explained that the close relationships influencers cultivate with their followers play a key role.

“Unlike regular users, influencers form parasocial bonds with their communities. These relationships make followers far more likely to support or defend claims without critically questioning them.

“This means misinformation introduced within these networks does not simply attract attention — it can transform scattered reactions into collective, belief-driven antagonism.”

The researchers identified two key mechanisms that strengthen misinformation when it comes from influencers.

The first is “legitimation”, where the influencer’s endorsement lends credibility to a claim. The second is “community enmeshment”, where followers rally around the influencer and reinforce the narrative.

When combined, these factors can create what researchers describe as “toxic echo chambers”, producing a self-reinforcing cycle in which toxicity increases engagement — and engagement encourages further inflammatory content.

The study highlights how these dynamics played out in early 2025 when several TikTok influencers posted viral videos claiming luxury brands including Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Chanel secretly manufactured products in Chinese factories while marketing them as “Made in France” or “Made in Italy”.

The videos presented the claims as exposés of industry deception but offered no verifiable evidence. Despite this, they generated millions of views and fuelled widespread online debate about authenticity, ethics and transparency in the luxury industry.

Dr Di Domenico said the example illustrates a growing tension within influencer culture.

“Despite the positive impact influencers can have on marketing outcomes, their prominence also introduces new risks,” he said.

“When misleading or controversial claims are amplified by influencers, the resulting backlash can create highly toxic environments that damage brands and distort public understanding.”

The research paper, titled Don’t You Know That You’re Toxic? How Influencer-Driven Misinformation Fuels Online Toxicity, is published in Psychology & Marketing.