Book presentation: Protection of youth against TikK radicalization in focus!

Book presentation: Protection of youth against TikK radicalization in focus!

The book presentation by Stefan Kaltenbrunner and Clemens Neuhold takes place today. Her work entitled "Allah's Powerful Influencer" deals with the influence of social media, in particular Tikkok, on young people and the spread of extremist content. The event begins at 5 p.m. in the Paracelsussaal and is supplemented by a discussion on the prevention of online radicalization. Mayor Günther Albel emphasizes the importance of education and digital competence as a protective mechanism against extremist influence. Admission is free and registration is under villach.at/buch required, so reports Click Carinthia.

The focus on social media is particularly relevant today. In the past, the spread of extremist content was particularly shaped by music and festivals. However, this strategy has changed fundamentally with the rise of online platforms. Right -wing extremist actors now use social networks such as Tikkok, Instagram and YouTube to spread their ideologies and, above all, to achieve young people. In Germany, propagandaelics already made up 62% of right -wing extremist crimes in 2022. This shows the worrying trend that bpb documented.

The role of Tikkok and other social media

Tikkok in particular has established itself as a central platform for low -threshold exchange. Already in 2021, 25% of 10 to 11 year olds use the app. Young people not only serve for entertainment, but also as a source of information on current topics such as the Ukraine War or climate change. In this context, 50% of 12- to 19-year-olds report on encounters with fake news. Hate and agitation can often be found in comments and posts on Tiktok, which makes the platform a suitable place for extremist content.

Dealing with extremist content on social media is particularly dangerous for many young people. This content is often subtle and adapted to the living environment of the young users, which makes an argument easier. Emojis and codes are used to disguise messages. Tikok is also used as an initial contact that leads users into closed communication rooms such as Discord or Telegram. It is therefore crucial that preventive measures are critical of the new strategies of radicalization. This necessity also emphasizes bpb.

Prevention as a key

The responsibility for the prevention of online radicalization is not only among the platform operators, but also with society as a whole. Educational institutions are required to promote digital skills and to deal with the content that consumes young people. In his speech, Mayor Albel emphasized the essential role of Enlightenment and digital competence in order to protect young people from extremist manipulations.

In summary, it can be stated that the combination of emotional address, current social debates and simple access to extremist material on the Internet, especially through social media, favors the radicalization processes in young people. While extreme content is becoming more and more accessible, targeted prevention measures must be developed in order to counteract these challenges.