2 days ago
The spotlight on hate speech and radicalisation online
The prevalence of hate speech and incitement to violence on social platforms is becoming increasingly alarming. A wave of misogyny, slander and threats is becoming normalised, while social platforms are being exploited as podiums for bigotry and radicalisation.
The boundaries between terrorism and other forms of offending are often blurred. Recent incidents involving vehicular homicide, hate crimes, school shootings and extremist acts have raised serious concerns.
According to studies, the rise in unfiltered hate significantly facilitated radicalisation on social media. Studies indicate that online extremism and online offending are likely to encourage and endorse violence. Beyond violent behaviour, radicalisation can also be recognised as the process of embracing extremist beliefs.
Younger individuals are more susceptible to being influenced by radical ideologies. Easy access to extremist content and instructions online directly fuels a rise in youth radicalisation. According to the United Nations, hate speech coupled with disinformation can lead to discrimination and large-scale violence.
The Internet radicalisation of youngsters and children is one of the most pressing current problems. Digital natives spend a lot of time online, and important aspects of their lives and social interactions are rooted online. Adolescents can lack critical judgement in their decisions and be impulsive, which can facilitate violent actions.
The radicalisation of youth can occur over an extended period. Social variables such as health, economics and politics can all create situations of oppression. In some cases, a specific incident, a deep dissatisfaction with authority, global politics, or grievance triggered it. Children as young as 12 years old are being radicalised.
The way the Internet presents, selects, links,and assembles information has been of concern in the context of extremist beliefs, according to scholars Jeans Binder and Jonathan Kenyon in "Terrorism and the Internet: How Dangerous is Online Radicalisation".
The alarming normalisation and acceptance of extremist beliefs online points to the formation of echo chambers, in which individuals can surround themselves with like-minded people and help reinforce each other's views, thus contributing to the amplification of opinions and acts of violence.
In the article 'Public Mental Health Approaches to Online Radicalisation: An Empty Systematic Review', the authors suggest that peer-to-peer, video hosting and collaborative platforms can serve as conduits to extremist content. The authors claim that there is a growing number of radicalised persons among younger users of short video platforms, such as TikTok, Discord, Telegram, gaming platforms and online videogames. They build upon one another to create a more multifaceted and variegated threat.
In 'The Third Generation of Online Radicalization', Jacob Ware recounts how Estonian police caught a 13-year-old boy in early 2020 for leading an international terrorist organisation. Ware writes that the teen's radicalisation stemmed from encrypted chatrooms; he radicalised others, drawing inspiration from a mix of revolutionary ideologies.
Investigators on counter-terrorism claim that violent posts on social media, forums and end-to-end encrypted messaging services are mostly visual and depict violence. According to investigators, this is a common tactic criminal actors use to heighten an emotional response. Unintentional individuals may fall into radical Internet rabbit holes.
The lack of knowledge and understanding of extremism among young people can lead to misinterpretations of the factors that put youth at risk. It is crucial to recognise that radicalisation is a social process; the problem involves not only social media but also online relationships and beliefs derived from the Internet.
Sonia Ambrosio
The writer is journalist, academic and researcher in media studies
