- ✔ Homework planner
- ✔ Reading list and revision notes
- ✔ General safety and wellbeing tips
Online Radicalisation & Extremist Recruitment
Understand how people are slowly pulled into harmful ideologies or gangs online – and how to spot the early warning signs before someone disappears into an echo chamber or extremist pipeline.
🚩 Early Signs of Radicalisation
Radicalisation is rarely “out of nowhere”. It usually starts with small, subtle shifts in language, interests and online habits. The goal is to isolate a person from balanced voices.
- Spending long hours in new online spaces with secretive behaviour.
- Sudden “black-and-white” thinking: everyone is good/evil, with no middle ground.
- Using new slogans or symbols they can’t fully explain.
- Repeated phrases like “The truth they don’t want you to know”.
- Anger towards family/friends who question their new views.
📡 Echo Chambers & Algorithm Bubbles
Social media algorithms show more of what we engage with. Extremist content exploits this to create “echo chambers” – spaces where one view is repeated until it feels like the only truth.
- Only seeing creators or channels that repeat the same anger or resentment.
- Comments attacking anyone who disagrees.
- “If you don’t believe this, you’re stupid / weak / a traitor.”
- Algorithms pushing more extreme versions of the same topic.
🕸️ Grooming Tactics Used by Gangs & Ideologies
Extremist groups and criminal gangs use grooming – just like abusers – to pull people in. They often target those who feel angry, lonely, bullied or “on the outside”.
- Love-bombing: “You’re one of us. We get you. You’re special.”
- Offering protection, status, money or belonging.
- Blaming a single group or system for all problems.
- Gradually normalising violent or hateful language.
- Pressuring secrecy: “Don’t tell your family or teachers.”
This is a classic grooming phrase used by gangs, cults and extremist ideologies.
🧭 Why This Module Matters
Online radicalisation doesn’t always end in violence – but it often leads to fear, isolation, hostility, criminal activity or harm to self and others. Early awareness saves lives and futures.
- Protects young people from being used by gangs or extremist networks.
- Helps friends, parents and staff spot red flags early.
- Encourages safe conversations instead of panic or blame.
- Shows safe routes for getting help and reporting concerns.
These scenarios are based on common patterns seen in real cases. Names and details are fictional, but the tactics are very real. Use them to practise spotting risk and planning safe responses.
Sam is 16. Over a few months, their friend group changes. A new older “friend” from an online server adds Sam on Discord and starts sharing memes that target certain groups.
At first it looks like dark humour. But the jokes are always aimed at the same religion and ethnicity. Whenever Sam seems unsure, the older friend replies: “Relax, it’s just jokes. The media hides what they really do.”
- “Jokes” that only punch down at one group.
- Claims that “the media hides the truth”.
- New friend encouraging secret late-night chats.
- Anger if Sam pushes back or questions anything.
- Sam takes screenshots of the messages.
- Talks to a trusted adult or safeguarding lead.
- Mutes or blocks the older friend & leaves the server.
- Uses reporting tools where available.
Jordan is struggling with unemployment and money. They search online for people “who understand”. They find a forum that claims to support people “crushed by the system”.
At first, it feels helpful – people share similar struggles. But slowly the tone changes. Some users start saying: “There’s only one group really to blame for your problems.” and “Peaceful methods have failed – we need stronger action.”
- Forum bans or attacks anyone who disagrees.
- Blaming a single group for all life problems.
- Glorifying people who have committed violence.
- Encouraging people to leave “weak” friends and family.
- Jordan leaves the forum and blocks notifications.
- Talks to a support service, mentor or advisor instead.
- Looks for balanced sources of information.
- Reports the site if it encourages harm or hatred.
Many journeys into harmful groups begin with someone feeling hurt, excluded or powerless – not with hate.
- Money problems, bullying, discrimination or feeling ignored.
- Spending more time alone online looking for answers or belonging.
- Searching for people “who finally get it”.
- High emotions: anger, shame, loneliness or injustice.
🛡️ Intervention focus: listening, support, practical help – not judgment.
Someone in a game or group chat says:
“You’re not like your family – you should join our secret group, don’t tell anyone we’re talking.”
What’s the safest move?
These questions and phrases are designed to open calm, shame-free conversations about what someone is seeing or feeling online.
For Parents / Carers
- “I’ve noticed you’ve been watching a lot of new channels. What do you like about them?”
- “If something online ever makes you angry or scared, you can always show me – you won’t be in trouble.”
- “Some groups online use people when they’re feeling low. If you ever feel that, talk to me so we can protect you.”
- “I’m not here to ban everything – I’m here to help you stay safe while you explore things.”
For Teachers / Staff
- “You’ve raised some strong views. Would you be open to looking at how different sources talk about this?”
- “If you ever feel pressured by people or groups online, you can speak to me privately.”
- “My role isn’t to judge your questions – it’s to keep you and others safe.”
For Teens Speaking to Friends
- “Some of the stuff that channel posts is heavy – are you okay with it all?”
- “If you ever feel like they’re trying to control you or make you angry all the time, I’ve got your back.”
- “We can look at other viewpoints together if you want – doesn’t have to be just one side.”
If you’re worried about someone being drawn into harmful groups or content, you are not alone – and you do not have to handle it by yourself.
Step 1 – Stay Safe & Gather Details
- Keep yourself safe first – do not meet unknown people or groups offline.
- Take screenshots of worrying content (messages, posts, usernames).
- Note dates/times and where you saw it (platform, server, group name).
Step 2 – Who To Talk To
- A trusted adult, parent, carer, teacher or safeguarding lead.
- School, college or workplace safeguarding team.
- Local support services or helplines if available in your area.
Step 3 – Using Platform Tools
- Use in-app report features to flag hate, threats or extremist propaganda.
- Block users who send pressured, secretive or hateful messages.
Important
- You do not have to prove anything by yourself.
- Reporting is about protection, not getting someone “in trouble for nothing”.
- Keep conversations calm, factual and focused on safety.
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