SMIDGE Releases Midway Newsletter #3

The SMIDGE Project is delighted to mark its midpoint with the release of its third newsletter, summarizing key milestones, ongoing research and recent events that shape Smidge's approach to combating online extremism and misinformation targeting middle-aged individuals across Europe.

Midpoint Milestones: Research and Analysis

In the past three quarters, the Smidge team has made considerable progress in mapping the landscape of extremist and conspiracy-based content directed at middle-aged individuals. By employing a multi-faceted research approach, Smidge has gained deeper insight into the evolution of misinformation and extremist narratives and the mechanisms driving their spread. Notable achievements include:

• Horizon Scanning and Social Network Analysis: Through horizon scanning, the project has sharpened its understanding of emerging conspiracy theories and extremist content. Social network analysis has helped map the connections between users engaging with such material, revealing the online dynamics that fuel these narratives.

• Text and Sentiment Analysis: The project’s detailed text analysis of user comments highlights emotional triggers, key concepts, and the language used in extremist discourse online. Data collected through targeted social media scraping has been instrumental in shaping counter-narrative efforts effectively.

• Surveys and Focus Groups: With over 500 surveys completed and eight focus groups conducted, the Smidge Project explores the social, psychological, and political factors that make middle-aged individuals susceptible to extremist messages. These findings reveal the motivations and vulnerabilities that contribute to the spread of extremism among this demographic.

Developing Counter-Narratives: Innovative Engagement Approaches

Based on research findings, Smidge is actively developing counter-narrative materials tailored to middle-aged audiences. These materials are designed to engage and challenge extremist ideologies through accessible and thought-provoking content. Key counter-narrative initiatives include:

• Educational Content and Digital Media: Smidge is producing a series of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to promote critical thinking and counter misinformation. Complementing these courses are short-form digital materials, including documentaries, memes, images, gifs, and videos crafted to appeal to middle-aged individuals and effectively challenge extremist ideas.Events and Engagements: Recent Smidge Activities

Smidge has participated in numerous events and presentations to share insights, encourage dialogue, and engage with stakeholders. Highlights include:

• Copenhagen General Assembly and Seminar: Held in May 2024, these events served as critical milestones for Smidge. The General Assembly focused on progress reviews, ethics, and the development of counter-narratives, while the seminar addressed the “hybridization” of conspiracy theories, misinformation, and extremism, emphasizing how mainstream and fringe content interact online.

• Webinars on Far-Right Extremism and Religious Radicalization: The Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), a Smidge partner, hosted two webinars on far-right extremism and religious radicalization among middle-aged populations. Featuring expert panels, these events examined the pressing issues related to radicalization and the factors influencing extremist behaviors.

• Podcast Series: Over the past six months, Smidge has released three podcast episodes on topics such as AI in education, conspiracy theories, and the hybridization of extremism. These episodes offer a platform for complex discussions in an accessible and engaging format.

• Academic Presentations and Conferences: Smidge collaborators have showcased project insights at several academic events, further establishing its research impact in the scholarly community. Notable presentations include:

  • ECSM Presentation: Jason Lee and Sara Wilford presented early Smidge findings at the 11th European Conference on Social Media (ECSM) in May 2024.

  • EARLI SIG 20 & 26 Keynote: Professor Kalypso Iordanou of UCLan Cyprus, a Smidge collaborator, gave a keynote on the challenges that emerging technologies present to human reasoning.

  • Policy & Internet Conference in Sydney: Researchers Paulina Kowalicka and Marco Castelli presented on “Guidelines to Reduce the Spread of Online Extremism and Disinformation Among Middle-Aged Individuals.”

  • ECREA 2024 in Ljubljana: Mikkel Bækby Johansen introduced "Hybridized Prefatory Extremism (HYPE)," a concept describing how conspiracy theories increasingly integrate into mainstream discourse.

  • Co-Creation Session with Danish Government Officials: In October, Line Nybro Petersen from the University of Copenhagen led a discussion on conspiracy theories and online harassment, attended by Denmark’s Minister for Environment and Equality, Magnus Heunicke, underscoring government interest in Smidge's findings.
    

As Smidge moves into the second half of the project, it is dedicated to broadening the reach of its counter-narratives and refining strategies based on ongoing research.