Feeling Terrified?
The Emotions of Online Violent Extremism

This Element presents original research into how young people interact with violent extremist material when online.

Lise Waldek (Author), Julian Droogan (Author), Catharine Lumby (Author)

9781108814232, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 December 2021

75 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 0.5 cm, 0.146 kg

This Element presents original research into how young people interact with violent extremist material, including terrorist propaganda, when online. It explores a series of emotional and behavioural responses that challenge assumptions that terror or trauma are the primary emotional responses to these online environments. It situates young people's emotional responses within a social framework, revealing them to have a relatively sophisticated relationship with violent extremism on social media that challenges simplistic concerns about processes of radicalisation. The Element draws on four years of research, including quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups with young people, and presents a unique perspective drawn from young people's experiences.

1. Introduction
2. Youth and Online Violent Extremism
3. The Diversity of Reactions to Online Violent Extremism
4. Strategies of Engagement
5. Radicalisation to Violent Extremism
6. Conclusion
References.

Subject Areas: Terrorism, armed struggle [JPWL], Media studies [JFD], History of ideas [JFCX], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Communication studies [GTC]