Taken to Extremes: Online Radicalism, Polarization, and Youth

Social media algorithms and other digital media are contributing towards increased online and offline polarization and extremism for both youth and adults – from political conspiracy theories to white nationalism and climate change debate.  What can parents, educators, and communities do to increase awareness and prevent children from falling into polarizing echo chambers or interacting in radical online spaces?

Children and Screens’ #AskTheExperts webinar “Taken to Extremes: Online Radicalism, Polarization and Youth” was held on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 12:00pm ET  via Zoom. A panel of investigative researchers, thought leaders, and advocates with expertise in online extremism shared examples of the digital mechanisms by which extremists target and capture the attention of youth, how media impacts polarization around the world, and what steps could be taken to limit the features of digital media that contribute most to extremism in youth.