Web of Hatred – Extremist Recruitment of Young People in Digital Spaces

The radicalisation of children and young people, and their exposure to extremist propaganda spreading online, has become a significant concern both in Finland and internationally. Digital environments are becoming increasingly intertwined with various aspects of daily life, as reflected in the increased online activity of children and young people and the rapid development of applications and technologies. Up to 95% of Finnish children have their own smartphone by the age of nine1. Consequently, children are being exposed to extremist influence online at an increasingly early age.
Several indicators of child and youth well-being point to a worrying trend: well-being is declining, which unfortunately creates fertile ground for violent radicalisation. Young people’s faith in the future is at an all-time low, while experiences of loneliness, mental health challenges and bullying have been on the rise. On a positive note, however, the vast majority of children and young people feel they can talk to their parents about their own matters.