Campaigns targeting extremism on the Internet have no documented effect

Extremists and propagandists flock to the social media, which gives rise to concern about how this can radicalise vulnerable young people.

For this reason, a number of researchers, government ministers and interest groups advocate preventing online radicalisation by using counter-narratives – either as direct counter-campaigns, which challenge or ridicule the extremists' ideology or through alliances with, for example, moderate imams or organisations to present the young people with positive alternatives.

But the effect of counter-narratives is dubious and may, at worst, have the directly opposite effect. Therefore, the most reliable solution is to take the long, hard route that relies on education and critical thinking, writes Tobias Gemmerli in his policy brief, 'The fight against online radicalisation starts offline'.

The campaigns are lost on vulnerable young people who are trapped in an existential and identity-political battle of resistance, in which they first and foremost try to have their own ideas and radical inclinations confirmed. And counter-narratives that are based on authorities, risk simply confirming or maybe even strengthen the urge to rebel.

The brief provides four specific recommendations for the battle against extremist narratives on the Internet:

• Count on the long-term strengthening of critical thinking and an open, democratic culture
• Educate young people in digital skills, which make them better able to understand the way the social media work and see through manipulation
• Avoid using direct counter-narratives, which challenge and falsify extremist ideology
• Avoid promoting positive alternatives through strategic alliances with organisations in civil society.