Sharing of extreme content
Also known as:
- radical content
- extremism
What is Risk ?
Digital risk factors associated with their interests and activities
Extremist content might depict or promote beliefs around:
- religion
- law and politics
- sex and gender
- race
- groups or communities
- social issues, for example, climate change
Someone might share extremist content if they want to radicalise others.
Extremist content can be designed to emotionally manipulate people. It can involve disinformation. Someone might share extremist content to show they support it, or to challenge mainstream media and news.
Extremist content can be shared through:
- social media
- video streaming sites
- forums
- messenger apps
- the dark web
Extremist content can also be spread widely by algorithms on social media. Under the 2000 and 2006 Terrorism Acts it is illegal to share information or content that:
- could be useful or help terrorists
- urges people to commit terrorist acts
- glorifies or praises terrorism
Where this can happen
Risks and motivations
Risks
Illegal and dangerous behaviours
Sharing illegal or extremist content could result in a child or young person being referred to a specialist organisation or the police. A child or young person who shares and promotes extremist views could also become involved with other illegal activities over time.
This could include:
- threatening others online
- violent protests or public order offences
- terrorist activity, for example, planning an attack
A child or young person who commits a criminal offence can face legal consequences. For example, a criminal record or prison sentence.
Upsetting or inappropriate content
Some extremist content will be inappropriate for a child or young person to view. For example, a video of a public execution or footage of a war zone.
Sharing this content can impact others. Another child or young person might feel anxious or upset after seeing it.
Becoming desensitised
Sharing graphic or extremist content could mean a child or young person becomes desensitised over time. Becoming desensitised can have a physical and emotional impact on a child or young person. They may feel less empathy for others, or act more aggressively.
Motivations
Reasons a child or young person might engage with and share extremist content online include:
- anger or frustration
- loneliness
- to influence others
- feeling strongly about a cause or ideology
- being manipulated or radicalised by someone
- friends or family who share extreme beliefs
- distrust of mainstream media
- being desensitised to extremist content
- believing they are anonymous
- not knowing it can be illegal
- being aware of some of the possible risks and harms
What you can do
You may be working with a child or young person who is sharing extremist content. You may also suspect that they have been radicalised.
Signs that a child or young person may have been radicalised include:
- increasingly spending time engaging with extreme content online
- blaming or becoming aggressive towards a group of people
- desiring change, for example, in politics
- becoming more secretive
- using new language
- repeating phrases that sound scripted
- changes in appearance
- expressing new beliefs
- losing interest in friends or hobbies
The Home Office has a vulnerability framework. This can help you identify if a child or young person is at risk of radicalisation.
If you have any immediate concerns about their wellbeing or safety, contact emergency services by dialling 999. If you think that a young person is at risk, follow your safeguarding procedure and read our safeguarding guidance.
Support
You may be working with a child or young person who has shared extremist content or has been radicalised. You can always refer to the prevent duty guidance.
It is also likely to require involvement from multiple organisations. Every child or young person’s recovery process will be different.
- Prevent (Action Counter Terrorism) – Website
- Report suspicious activity (GOV.UK) – Website
- Radicalisation (NSPCC) – Website
- Fake news, hoaxes and misinformation (NSPCC) – Website
- How to support young people who encounter upsetting content online (Childnet) – Website
- Why Do People Share Ideologically Extreme, False, and Misleading Content on Social Media? (International Communication Association) – Journal
Read more about sharing of extreme content
- Research into risk factors that may lead children to harm online (Revealing Reality) – Website
- Terrorism and the internet: How dangerous is online radicalization? (Frontiers in Psychology) – Journal
- Social media, extremism, and radicalization (Scientific Advances Journal) – Journal
- Prevent duty guidance (GOV.UK) – Website
Share your experience of sharing of extreme content
You can tell us about:
- other terms you might have heard
- conversations you’ve had with young people
- a related platform or app
- another related risk or harm