Hashtags, conspiracy theories… Anti-Semitism thrives among young people because of social networks

Anti-Semitism is spreading on social networks. Hateful content, and more specifically anti-Semitic speech, continues to spread across major platforms, warns a report published this week by European organizations.

Despite the strengthening of moderation techniques, social networks like Instagram and TikTok are used daily to disseminate negationist and anti-Semitic content to younger users, indicates a study conducted by the British association Hope not hate, the German foundation Amadeu Antonio Foundation and the Swedish group Expo Foundation.

“Millions” of hashtags linked to anti-Semitism on Instagram and TikTok

The most extreme and prolific rhetoric can be found on niche sites like Parler and 4chan, the report points out, which worries that mainstream platforms like Instagram and TikTok are being used to introduce anti-Semitic conspiracy theories to young people.

On Instagram, where 70% of the world’s users are aged 13 to 34, there are “millions” of hashtags linked to anti-Semitism. On TikTok, where users are younger – 69% are between 16 and 24 years old – three hashtags related to anti-Semitism have been viewed more than 25 million times in six months.

“Anti-Semitism has reached young users in the form of conspiracy theories”

“A new generation of social media users have been presented with anti-Semitic ideas that they likely would not have encountered elsewhere,” said Joe Mulhall, head of research at Hope Not Hate. The study points out that on mainstream platforms, anti-Semitism has reached young users in the form of conspiracy theories, with an “unprecedented increase” during the pandemic.

Google searches for the term “new world order”, an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, reached their highest level in 15 years in March 2020. The study also found that Holocaust denial had changed. on the Internet in “more mocking and Internet-friendly forms of denial”.

The report highlights the failure of most platforms to address the problem when they have the means to act. A Facebook spokesperson reacted, saying anti-Semitism is “completely unacceptable” and highlighted the toughening of its policy last year, which has made it possible to further tackle online hatred and denial. A spokesperson for TikTok has meanwhile argued that the platform “condemns anti-Semitism” and “continues to strengthen (its) tools to fight against anti-Semitic content”.

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