BUILDING RESILIENCE & CONFRONTING RISK IN THE COVID-19 ERA A PARENTS & CAREGIVERS GUIDE TO ONLINE RADICALIZATION POLARIZATION AND EXTREMISM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION LAB (PERIL) PERIL brings the resources and expertise of the university sector to bear CONTENTS on the problem of growing youth polarization and extremist radicalization, through scalable research, intervention, and public education ideas to PARENT & CAREGIVER GUIDE 3 reduce rising polarization and hate. WHAT IS ONLINE RADICALIZATION? WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? 4 SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER NEW RISKS IN THE COVID-19 ERA 5 The SPLC seeks to be a catalyst for racial justice in the South and RECOGNIZING WARNING SIGNS 6 beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white UNDERSTANDING THE DRIVERS 7 supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the ENGAGE AND EMPOWER 9 human rights of all people. RESPONDING TO HATE 11 HOW TO GET HELP 12 APPENDIX: STAYING ALERT TO SITES, PLATFORMS AND APPS FREQUENTLY EXPLOITED BY EXTREMISTS 17 ENDNOTES 19 CREDITS 20 ILLUSTRATIONS BY CLAUDIA WHITAKER PARENT & CAREGIVER GUIDE Who is this guide for? We wrote this guide with a wide Whether you live with a young person, or work virtually range of caregivers in mind. with youth, radicalization to extremism is something we all should be concerned about. Extremists looking Caregivers living with children and young adults. This to recruit and convert children are predatory. Like all includes parents, grandparents, foster parents, extended forms of child exploitation, extremist recruitment drives families, and residential counselors who are the a wedge between young people and the adults they would guardians and caregivers of children and youth living typically trust. The radicalization of young people is a at home, in group homes, and other residential settings. threat to civil society, from the innocent people it vic- In the wake of the global pandemic, adults in the home timizes to the family bonds it breaks apart. Whether you live with a young have taken on new responsibilities for homeschooling and are now often the only adults youth interact with on In addition to the anxieties of the COVID-19 era, on-go- person, or now work virtually with a daily basis. They are on the front lines of recognizing ing Black Lives Matter protests against the legacy of and responding to radicalization in the COVID-19 era. police brutality and systemic racism, as well as intense youth, radicalization to extremism polarization around the 2020 presidential election are Caregivers outside the home. This includes teachers, being exploited by far right extremists. These protests is something we all should be principals, school counselors, coaches, music teachers, affirm the need to end and to dismantle white suprem- religious and youth group leaders, scout troop leaders, acy as an essential step to preventing extremist radical- employers, social workers, mental health therapists and ization. Extremists are seeking to co-opt these protests in concerned about. Extremists looking other adults who continue to engage with youth, even in ways that heighten the risks of violence and online rad- virtual settings. These adults--who normally form a dense icalization. This guide will help families, caregivers, and to recruit and convert children are network of trusted adults that interact with young people youth recognize and confront new risks posed by far-right on a daily basis--still have regular contact with them in extremists during this time. It will also help you build predators. Like all forms of child online contexts and in-person outside the home in some resilience against these risks well beyond this moment. unique cases. These caregivers are well-placed to recog- exploitation, extremist recruitment nize warning signs of radicalization. Adults outside the home are also a key network for in-home caregivers and drives a wedge between young parents to connect with as a resource and sounding board people and the adults they would during the pandemic. normally trust. Radicalization is a problem for our entire society, from This project was made possible the innocent people it victimizes to by a generous contribution from the family bonds it breaks apart. The Piper Fund. 2 A PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS GUIDE TO ONLINE RADICALIZATION PERIL & SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER WWW.SPLCENTER.ORG/PERIL 3 WHAT IS ONLINE RADICALIZATION? NEW RISKS IN THE COVID-19 ERA nline radicalization was a concern well before the COVID-19 pandemic began.4 But the pandemic itself has increased WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? O the risks of online radicalization at the same time as it has heightened the vulnerabilities and drivers that make nline radicalization occurs when someone’s online activities—reading, watching videos, or socializing— help youth susceptible to extremist narratives and predatory recruiters. Here are some reasons why: O lead them to adopt politically or religiously extremist views. Extremist beliefs say that one group of people is in dire conflict with other groups who don’t share the same ethnic, religious or political identity. Extremists Unprecedented time online. Almost 93% of people in States will be touched by the loss of life from COVID-19. believe that this imagined conflict can only be resolved through separation, domination, or violence between households with school-age children reported their chil- Young people have also lost their regular network of peer groups. This frequently leads to anti-democratic opinions and goals, such as a desire for dictatorship, civil war, dren had engaged in some form of distance learning since support, the rewards and milestones of the school year or an end to the rule of law.1 the outbreak of COVID-19. Nearly 15 million college stu- (sports, dances, graduation, etc.), and their daily rou- dents have switched to online learning as well. For mil- tine and structure. COVID-19’s impact on the economy “Radicalization” simply means any process that leads a person to hold extremist beliefs. These beliefs may or may lions of youth, the hours previously spent at school or in is pushing caregivers into unemployment, promising not lead to overt violence. Just like there are many forms of extremism, there is no single pathway to radicaliza- classrooms under the supervision of trusted adults are an ongoing loss of financial stability for all who depend tion. It is a complex process, involving many personal and external influences. Finally, it is important to note that now largely spent online. on them. Financial instability, uncertainty and loss not all ‘radical’ politics are extremist. Beliefs that challenge established systems of political power are sometimes are also contributing to an increase in adverse mental unfairly labeled this way in order to discredit them. Remember: for someone’s political views to be a matter of seri- Distracted parents and caregivers. Work has not stopped health conditions for both young ous concern, they should match the definition of extremism provided above. Here are some of the most common for most parents and caregivers. Some adults must people and adults.6 ways people radicalize online: work online during much or most of the day. Many other adults must continue to go to work outside the home, Scapegoating and simplistic Content “Rabbit Holes.” People can radicalize by reading Peer Sharing. Sometimes, people are shown extremist leaving children’s online activities answers. Extremist groups exploit or viewing increasingly extreme texts, videos, memes or content and propaganda by peers and online acquain- unsupervised. Parents and care- tragedy and loss by pushing blame other content online. Gradual encounters with more and tances. Often, such content is treated as a dark joke, or givers are relaxing screen time onto scapegoats who they claim more extreme content—sometimes through automatic “edgy” humor expressed through a playful meme or ani- restrictions in order to find more are responsible for the virus and recommendations that suggest other videos to watch, mated video. But research shows that exposure like this time for their own work, both in its broader impacts. Such groups books to purchase or articles to read—can open pathways can lead some people to consider extremist positions, pre- and outside the home. thrive during times of uncertainty to radicalization for at-risk people. Healthy skepticism of paring them for later radicalization.3 Jokes, like memes by offering simplistic answers and government can develop into views that promote socie- about the Holocaust or slavery, also help to dehumanize Risks associated with easy targets to blame. tal breakdown or violent conflict with democratic insti- entire groups of people, making it easier to rationalize at-home digital learning. tutions. For example, an interest in conspiracy theories violent action in the future. Significant increases in time Broadening support base. Some extremist might lead to antisemitic world views. spent online increase the likeli- groups are exploiting COVID-19 as a pub- Direct contact with extremists online. In the past, hood of encounters with bad actors. lic relations opportunity, engaging in com- Filter Bubbles. Online radicalization is helped by a lack extremists were limited in their chances to speak directly This is the case with child exploitation, according to munity service aimed at softening their of competing views or challenges to the ideologies peo- with young people. But the internet connects extremists an FBI warning issued in April 2020,5 and it is also