While the Internet can be an amazing tool for children and teenagers to learn and socialize, online extremism has become a significant threat in recent years.
Extremist groups no longer hide in forgotten corners of the dark web. They inhabit places often accessed by kids like social media platforms and gaming communities. Their presence in prominent online spaces like these makes it easier for them to spread their radical ideologies, normalize harmful behaviors and recruit new members.
This problem has been growing exponentially, which is why it’s so important for caregivers like parents and teachers to take proactive steps to protect young minds.
The recent Netflix miniseries Adolescence has shone a light on the impact of online extremism, particularly on boys. It underscores how bad actors can abuse digital platforms to shape young people’s perceptions and behaviors, sometimes with tragic results.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the lessons learned from Adolescence as well as measures to keep kids safe from online extremism.
Understanding online extremism
The general definition of online extremism is the use of digital platforms to express radical ideologies that promote one or more of the following:
- Hatred
- Violence
- Discrimination against specific groups.
Common forms of online extremism include far-right nationalism (including white supremacism), religious extremism, conspiracy theories, and the ‘manosphere’ or incel culture.
These types of extremist groups often target young people’s insecurities and/or feelings of frustration with society.
Some of the ways they do this include:
Offering solutions to complex problems
This involves a reductionist or oversimplified approach to complex issues. For instance, prominent Internet influencers like Andrew Tate, who is idolized by many incels, have stated publicly that men should have ‘authority’ over women to maintain healthy relationships.
This can seem plausible to young men who haven’t much experience with dating but promotes relationships that are coercive and possibly abusive.
Creating echo chambers
Extremists can harness technology to ensure that only people who share their ideology are allowed to speak. For example, the neo-Nazi forum Stormfront repeatedly allows posts from users espousing the “Great Replacement Theory” – the false notion that white people are being replaced by immigrants.
As the moderators are themselves extremists, these beliefs can flourish without being challenged by more reasonable users. Worse still, those who post inflammatory content gain status within the online echo chamber.
This can have fatal consequences, as in the case of the Christchurch mosque shootings. The perpetrator was a member of several white supremacist forums, and was a believer in the ‘Great Replacement Theory’.
Providing a false sense of belonging
Online extremist groups often play on the loneliness of isolated and lonely young people. Groups like the ‘Red Pill‘ movement promote the ideology that men need to ‘wake up’ to the fact that society has failed them in some way.
Instead of encouraging users to focus on self-improvement, such extremist groups promote an image of men as victims of shallow, manipulative women. Young men are even encouraged to stop dating, increasing their resentment and sense of isolation from society.
Media Influence and Lessons from Adolescence
For those who haven’t seen the Netflix miniseries, Adolescence explores the themes of guilt, accountability, and the invisible extremist forces that can influence children.
** SPOILER ALERT **
In the very first episode, a family home is raided by the police who promptly arrest 13-year-old Jamie. His parents and sister are shocked and convinced that law enforcement has made a mistake.
However, with time they realize that Jamie has been exposed to online bullying as well as extremist content, which led to him stabbing a girl in his class to death.
Although the series doesn’t delve into the particular extremists or groups with which Jamie is involved, it does underscore the dangers of cyberbullying and incel culture.
For example, one of Jamie’s classmates references the 80/20 theory espoused by many incels that 80% of women are attracted to the top 20% of men. While this is untrue, such beliefs can fuel resentment and entitlement in young boys.
** SPOILER ALERT **
Key takeaways
After Adolescence was well received by the reviewing public Netflix announced that the series will be made available to view for free in all UK secondary schools. This is mainly because the episodes underscore several cautionary elements.
The role of social media in spreading harmful ideologies
While standalone websites like Stormfront are a problem, mainstream social media platforms also host extremist content, despite the best efforts of moderators.
For instance, after Facebook banned white supremacist groups in 2019, organizations like the Neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division (AWD) migrated to Telegram. They exploited the platform’s advanced end-to-end encryption and relatively light moderation to continue spreading hate speech.
When Telegram launched its crackdown in September 2024, many Neo-Nazi groups moved to another platform which we’re not naming here.
Extremist groups still can exist on mainstream platforms by exploiting privacy features like encryption and invite-only membership to evade detection by site administrators.
The consequences of unchecked online bullying
**SPOILER ALERT **
A key plot point in Adolescence is that the Police originally believed that the main character Jamie and his victim Katie were friends, as she’d commented on a number of his Instagram photos.
In reality, she was using ‘toxic’ emojis, such as a picture of a stick of dynamite and a red pill to accuse Jamie of being an incel. These comments had multiple likes from her and Jamie’s peers, which undoubtedly intensified Jamie’s feelings of being bullied.
While the lead detective in the series had help from his 15-year-old son to work out Jamie had been bullied through these emojis, this discovery came too late to help prevent Katie from being killed.
** SPOILER ALERT **
The impact of toxic masculinity on young people
In 2014, 22-year-old Elliot Rodger went on a murder spree after repeatedly posting online about his feelings of loneliness. He made repeated complaints of girls choosing ‘inferior’ men over him and even went so far as to describe women as a ‘plague’,
After posting in various ‘manosphere’ forums like ForeverAlone, Rodger ultimately published a manifesto expressing frustration at being a virgin and announcing that women shouldn’t be given any rights.
This culminated in the death of six people, with fourteen others injured. Rodger had mental health problems. However, his ‘Day of Retribution’ was also triggered by his online discussions with fellow incels who encouraged his anger towards women.
The role of media
Shows like Adolescence can help adults and children understand how extremist content can distort reality for those with impressionable minds. However, other types of media can influence kids towards more hateful beliefs. This is why caregivers need to actively engage with children about the content they consume.
Common questions and answers
Twenty years ago, it was much easier for parents to police their kids’ online activities. Usually, there was just one family computer in a communal area like the lounge. Web browsing was paid for by the minute, so parents were keen to supervise their kids and made sure they only stayed online long enough to do what was essential.
The rise of broadband Internet, inexpensive mobile devices, and social media has upended all that.
While it can seem impossible to be sure your child is safe online these days, there are some sensible steps you can take.
How can I spot online extremism?
Some common indicators that your teenager has been exposed to harmful content include increased isolation, use of fringe language or memes (think 80/20), and fixation on specific online communities.
Changes in behavior, particularly aggression can also be an indicator but are also typical for teenagers who are using the Internet in a normal way.
How do I monitor my child’s online activities without invading their privacy?
The best way to do this is to have a conversation with your kid or teen about why monitoring is necessary for their safety.
Explain that extremists often try to target people, which is not their fault. You can also point out that if they have something they want to say to their friends in confidence they can just use the Internet to arrange to meet with them in person.
Most parental controls like Apple’s “Family Sharing” are customizable, allowing you to protect your child whilst still respecting their privacy. For example, you can allow only connections to specific sites without reading your teen’s private message history.
What early signs of online radicalization should I watch for?
If you’re using parental controls on your child’s devices, you can usually see what sites they’ve been visiting and even what searches they’re running.
If they’re showing an interest in hateful ideologies like incel culture it’s a clear sign you need to talk to them about the dangers of online extremism.
Other signs can include adopting extremist language and beliefs, or detachment from real-life relationships.
Are parental control tools effective against online extremism?
The best way to protect your kids online is to be there at all times to supervise them when using the Internet.
As this isn’t always practical, parental control tools can help. For example, they can block connections to websites known to host harmful content like Stormfront. However, extremists also exist on mainstream platforms like Facebook and Telegram.
Children are also extremely good at finding new ways to bypass parental controls. This is why you need to log their search terms and messages as well as the sites they visit. Ideally, check their device each day to monitor their activity. For younger children, set screen time limits so they can’t go online when you’re not there.
Above all, make sure your child knows that if they see something they don’t understand or makes them uncomfortable they can always talk to you about it.
How can I discuss sensitive online content with my child?
If your kid has seen extreme content, you should approach any discussion with empathy and curiosity. If you simply forbid them to access material or speak to certain people without explaining why, they may keep trying.
Instead, go through the content they’ve encountered and encourage them to think critically. For instance, if your son has encountered content that describes all women as shallow and manipulative you can encourage him to think about the women in his life. If they don’t typify these behaviors, he’ll understand that this kind of ideology is false.
Practical strategies for protecting kids
Building digital literacy and thinking skills
Remind children that anyone can create a website or write a social media post. Even if a source sounds plausible, teach them to evaluate it critically so they can identify misinformation and understand bias.
This is best done by showing them how to fact-check using multiple sources. For instance, if someone’s citing Wikipedia, encourage your child to check the corresponding link in the reference section to ensure that sources have been quoted correctly.
Using parental control tools and safe browsing software
As we’ve seen, parental controls can be an effective way to protect your kids from extremist content e.g. by blocking dangerous websites.
However, you should also configure your children’s privacy settings on online accounts e.g. to block messages from people not already in their contact list.
Fostering open communication
Caregivers like parents must create a trusting environment where kids feel comfortable about discussing their online experiences without judgment or punishment.
This is important, as your teen may have joined an online community for legitimate reasons e.g. to discuss video gaming but then been exposed to extremist content by some members.
Remind your son or daughter that you will always help to keep them safe, even if they initiate the discussion.
Collaborating with schools and community programs
The recent decision to air Adolescence in UK schools is a great example of how schools can raise awareness about online radicalization and promote inclusivity. As a parent, you can help by learning more about what programs are available, so you can continue the discussion with your child at home.
Promoting safe online communities
Not all online communities encourage toxic behaviors. In recent years, platforms like Facebook and Telegram have worked hard to remove extremist content.
The safest online spaces for your child and their friends can be found in private messaging groups on open-source platforms like Signal.
If you set up the group chat yourself, you can ensure that only people your teen knows are allowed to join the conversation. You can also remove harmful content and/or block the sender.
For younger children, there are specialist social media platforms like Zigazoo and Kidzworld. These are heavily monitored to ensure children can only see age-appropriate content.
You can also set up a social media instance using a decentralized network like diaspora*. This will allow you to control all members, messages and posted content but you need to have the necessary time and computer skills to maintain it.
The same holds for online games. Certain titles like Minecraft support setting up a private server where your kids and friends can play safely without any contact from strangers.
Balancing digital freedom with security
A common complaint by extremists who are restricted or banned from popular social media platforms is that their rights are being violated. Older children also may resent parents who police every aspect of their online activities.
While we all enjoy freedom of expression, that doesn’t give extremists the right to spread hateful content that could harm young people. Teenagers also have the right to some expectation of privacy, but parents do need to step in if they’re being exposed to extremism.
That’s why caregivers need to adopt a multi-faceted approach that balances digital freedoms with their child’s safety. This can best be done by building digital literacy skills, fostering open communication, using parental controls effectively, collaborating with schools, and promoting positive content online.
Parents should also join discussions about these challenges, share their experiences with others facing similar concerns, and explore further resources on safeguarding against online extremism.
FAQ
This is best defined as any radical ideology promoted by digital platforms that advocates hatred or violence.
Yes. Not all groups promoting political opinions are extreme. However, elements of communities like the ‘Red Pill’ movement do promote anger and violence towards women, for instance. If you’re unsure about a website or group, try to do some online research before allowing your kid to access it.
Wikipedia maintains a list of ‘alt tech’ platforms like Parler and Odysee. These have minimal moderation and fact-checking, so are popular with extremists. But they also contain legitimate discourse. If your child is using these, we suggest you view this as a ‘yellow’ flag. Focus on the specific content with which they’re engaging and speak to them about anything that concerns you.
Common symptoms include increased isolation from family and friends, aggression, adopting fringe language, and searching for violent ideologies online. These can also be typical teenage behaviors, so you need to investigate thoroughly before deciding that online extremism is the cause.
No. Firstly, extremists exist on mainstream social media platforms like Discord, so it’s difficult to block them. Secondly, kids are very good at finding ways to circumvent parental controls. While you should use them, you need to combine these tools with regular monitoring and open discussions with your child.
Most kids want to use social media and messaging apps to communicate with their friends. If you’re worried about them being contacted by bad actors, first configure the privacy settings on their online accounts.
For instance, Instagram profiles can be set to private so only confirmed contacts can see the content you post. If Jamie’s character had done this in Adolescence, his classmate Katie wouldn’t have been able to see or comment on his photos unless he specifically allowed it.
Alternatively, set up a private group chat using a verifiable open-source app like Signal. If you add your kids and their friends to this, you’ll be able to monitor the conversation and remove any harmful content. You can also block anyone you don’t know from joining the conversation.
The best approach is to watch a show like Adolescence together. Encourage them to think about what they’ve seen and encourage them to discuss it with you. You can then talk about ways to identify harmful content online, such as verifying claims using multiple sources.
Schools can implement programs to promote inclusivity and encourage kids to discuss extremist content they’ve encountered. They can also share their materials with parents who can help them to promote healthy online behaviors.
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