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ABOUT US
SMIDGE (Social Media Narratives: Addressing Extremism in Middle-Age) is a Horizon Europe research project launched in March 2023 with a three-year duration.
The project examines how online narratives, including conspiracy theories and misinformation, spread and evolve, with a focus on individuals aged 45-65.
This generation plays a vital role in shaping public discourse, bringing experience and influence to social and political discussions. By better understanding their online engagement, our research seeks to empower individuals with tools to navigate the digital platforms confidently and contribute to a more informed society.
Project Overview
The SMIDGE project (Social Media narratives: Addressing Extremism in Middle Age) addresses the rise of extremist narratives, misinformation and conspiracy theories online. The project focuses on the middle-aged demographic (ages 45-65), who play influential roles in shaping political discourse and societal attitudes. This age group is highly engaged in social and political dynamics and holds considerable influence within their communities, families and workplaces, making them a key demographic for addressing the spread of harmful content. Recognising their impact on wider societal trends, SMIDGE is the first project of its kind to explore how middle-aged individuals interact with online narratives and how their engagement can contribute to a healthier digital environment.
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SMIDGE employs an interdisciplinary approach, using social network analysis, content analysis and survey-based research to map out extremist discourses circulating online. The project is being conducted across six countries -Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Cyprus and the UK- to account for diverse national contexts. A key part of the initiative is the co-creation of counter-narratives in collaboration with middle-aged individuals, ensuring these messages resonate both cognitively and emotionally while fostering critical thinking and digital resilience.
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In addition to producing counter-narratives, SMIDGE is providing policy recommendations, training resources and educational tools for journalists, educators and security professionals. These resources equip key stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to address the specific challenges posed by extremist narratives among middle-aged individuals. The project is also creating an open-access database of findings and materials to support ongoing efforts to build a more informed and resilient digital society across Europe.
Objectives
Gaining deeper insights into how individuals aged 45-65 engage with online narratives, including extremist content, through a multidisciplinary approach that combines literature review and social network analysis. This research aims to better understand the digital landscape and support informed, constructive engagement in online discussions.
Analysing various forms of extremist discourses and narratives across Europe, using social network analysis, textual and content analysis, and surveys, focus groups, and interviews in six countries (the UK, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Kosovo, and Cyprus).
Developing counter-narratives and educational resources to promote reflexivity and provide evidence-based tools and training for journalists and security professionals, who play a crucial role in addressing fake news and disinformation.
Providing guidelines & recommendations for policy and decision-makers based on the project findings, and present these findings to security professionals, policy makers, and journalists through roundtables and conferences.
Methodology
SMIDGE employs a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to better understand the complex dynamics of online narratives and their influence on middle-aged individuals. The methodology is structured to capture a broad spectrum of data and insights, enabling a nuanced understanding of extremist narratives and their impact.
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Social Network Analysis: Utilising advanced social network analysis techniques, SMIDGE examines the structural dynamics of online communities and networks involved in spreading extremist content. This analysis helps identify key actors, networks and patterns of information dissemination, contributing to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving the spread of extremism.
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Textual and Content Analysis: By analysing language, imagery, and messaging strategies across various online platforms, the project explores common themes and narratives shaping discussions. This insight helps in recognising trends and developing strategies for fostering critical engagement with online content.​
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Surveys, Focus Groups and Interviews: SMIDGE conducts surveys, focus groups and interviews in six countries (UK, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Kosovo, Cyprus) to gather qualitative and quantitative data on the perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of middle-aged individuals regarding extremist content online. These methods provide valuable insights into the socio-cultural context and demographic-specific factors influencing susceptibility to extremist narratives.
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Co-Creation Exercises: In collaboration with community leaders, educators, and media professionals, SMIDGE develops counter-narratives and educational resources that resonate with the target audience. These exercises ensure that the project’s outputs are relevant, effective, and inclusive, empowering individuals to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.
Ethical Perspective and Approach
SMIDGE is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards throughout all stages of the project. The ethical perspective and approach are guided by principles of responsible research and innovation (RRI), ensuring the ethical conduct of research, respect for fundamental rights, and the promotion of societal values.
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Informed Consent: All participants involved in surveys, focus groups, and interviews provide informed consent prior to their participation, ensuring voluntary and informed participation in research activities.
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Anonymity and Confidentiality: Measures are implemented to protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants, including anonymization of data and secure storage of sensitive information.
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Second-Order Reflexivity: SMIDGE integrates second-order reflexivity into its approach, acknowledging the potential biases and influences of researchers and stakeholders involved in the project. By promoting reflexivity, the project encourages critical self-awareness and reflection among participants and researchers, mitigating the risk of unintended biases and ensuring the validity and reliability of research findings.
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Transparency and Accountability: SMIDGE maintains transparency in its research processes and findings, fostering open dialogue and accountability. Research outcomes and methodologies are documented and made accessible to stakeholders and the public, promoting transparency and trustworthiness.
WP Plan
WP1: Administration Management, WP2: Scientific Management, WP9: Ethics Requirements
WP1: Project Administrative, Legal, and Financial Management
Lead: Kobenhavns Universitet (UCPH)
WP1 focuses on ensuring smooth and effective project management across all partners and stages of SMIDGE. This includes overseeing administrative, legal, and financial operations, coordinating between the consortium members and monitoring progress against key deliverables. UCPH ensures compliance with European Commission regulations and risk management procedures, keeping the project on track and within budget.
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WP2: Scientific Coordination and Ethical Oversight
Lead: De Montfort University (DMU)
WP2 is dedicated to scientific project management and the ethical oversight of all research activities. It ensures that the methodologies used across the consortium are scientifically sound and ethically responsible, adhering to the highest standards of research integrity. This WP also monitors data protection, participant consent and the handling of sensitive information to ensure transparency and ethical compliance.
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WP3: Mapping Current Extremist and Misinformation Narratives
Lead: Università degli Studi di Milano (UMIL)
WP3 conducts comprehensive horizon scanning to identify and map the various extremist and conspiracy narratives circulating across Europe. This includes content analysis of misinformation and extremist discourse on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and fringe forums. By cataloging these narratives, WP3 creates a robust database that tracks the evolution of online extremism and its interaction with different demographic groups.
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WP4: Social Network and Content Analysis of Extremist Communities
Lead: Kobenhavns Universitet (UCPH)
WP4 focuses on understanding the technological and social dynamics behind extremist groups online. This work package utilizes social network analysis and sentiment analysis to examine how these communities interact, grow and spread extremist content. The team explores how algorithms, digital platforms and echo chambers amplify these narratives, with particular attention to how middle-aged individuals become ensnared in such networks.
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WP5: Attractiveness of Extremist Narratives to Middle-Aged Users
Lead: UCLan Cyprus
WP5 dives deeper into the psychological and cognitive appeal of extremist narratives, particularly targeting middle-aged adults. Through a combination of surveys, focus groups and interviews across six European countries (UK, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Kosovo, Cyprus), this WP assesses how and why extremist content resonates with this demographic. The findings inform the development of intervention strategies and counter-narratives aimed at disrupting the appeal of such content.
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WP6: Co-Creation of Counter-Narratives
Lead: Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
WP6 takes a hands-on approach to developing counter-narratives through co-creation exercises with stakeholders. This includes middle-aged individuals, educators, community leaders and policymakers. The content created includes multimedia formats such as videos, infographics and interactive digital resources designed to counter extremist messages and promote critical reflection. The goal is to empower individuals with tools to recognize and resist online disinformation and extremist recruitment efforts.
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WP7: Policy Recommendations and Training Resources
Lead: Università degli Studi di Milano (UMIL)
WP7 focuses on creating policy briefs and guidelines for European and national policymakers, helping to implement more effective strategies for countering misinformation and online extremism. This WP also develops training resources for journalists, educators and security professionals, enabling them to understand and confront extremist narratives effectively within their own sectors.
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WP8: Dissemination, Communication and Exploitation
Lead: Inclusive Europe (INEU)
WP8 ensures that the outcomes and findings of the SMIDGE project are widely disseminated, communicated and accessible to key stakeholders and the public. This WP uses public outreach campaigns, social media strategies and partnerships with educational institutions to spread awareness of the tools and resources developed. The goal is to ensure broad uptake of the project’s deliverables, ensuring maximum societal impact.
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WP9: Ethics, Data Protection and Responsible Research
Lead: Kobenhavns Universitet (UCPH)
WP9 guarantees that the project adheres to the highest ethical standards, with a strong focus on data protection, transparency and integrity. The WP oversees ethical compliance throughout the project’s duration, ensuring that all research is conducted responsibly and with respect for participants' rights.