Tiktok and Instagram are used to spread Anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories

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According to the report «Antisemitism in the digital age» from the organizations Hope not Hate (UK), Expo (Sweden), and Amadeu Antonio Stiftung (Germany), social networks are systematically used to spread conspiracy theories, including conspiracy theories about Jews.

The report is nearly 100 pages long and has 231 citations. It says that the most prominent anti-Semitism on the internet is linked to conspiracy theories and that anti-Semitic hashtags are also being used on TikTok, which is very popular among children. Over the course of six months, people have viewed such tags 25 million times on TikTok.

«The most worrying thing is that we found anti-Semitism on every platform we explored.» The report points to poor moderation as a problem.

The report mentions nine apps, including three that are popular with children as well: Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Some figures from the report:

1. A Reddit forum on conspiracy theories increased by 500,000 new members between February and November 2020.
2. At least 120 groups and channels in Telegram have shared the manifesto of the terrorist in Christchurch, New Zealand.
3. On Instagram, there are millions of hits if you search for tags about New World Order or Illuminati.

The New World Order is a conspiracy theory that suggests that some people have joined forces to assume power in the world. Who they are vary according to one’s own political standpoint. In extreme right-wing political environments, some believe that Jews are behind it all. Other communities believe that aliens are behind it and that the world elites are reptiles disguised as humans. Still, others think that there are Freemasons who want to form a world government. (Source)

For example, symbols used within the New World Order are a pyramid with an eye on top. The all-looking eye is believed to be the symbol of the Illuminati,  which can be found on the US dollar bill.

Some of the biggest media platforms have been central to spreading conspiracy theories. The researchers found that some platforms have become very good at removing anti-Semitic organizations, but poor at removing anti-Semitic content from individuals or little-known organizations.

According to the report, there were claims during the corona pandemic that it was the Jews who were behind the whole pandemic.

The report also tells of a survey in Germany showing that anti-Semitic incidents more than doubled from 2019 to 2020. This applies to everything, from property damage to mass mailings of anti-Semitic emails (source,  source).

QAnon and anti-Semitism

The QAnon phenomenon brings together many conspiracy theories. «A strong sinew of anti-Semitism runs through QAnon,» the report said, explaining that in Hungary in particular, the QAnon movement has a strong link to anti-Semitism. Wikipedia also reports that QAnon and anti-Semitism are linked. It has been described as a cult with roots in anti-Semitism and Nazism.

Bill Gates will control you through the vaccine

The report also refers to various investigations into how many people believe in various conspiracy theories:

Eighteen percent of the population of Spain and Ireland believe the corona pandemic is a conspiracy to force people to take the vaccine. 18 percent in Spain believe the pandemic was triggered by radiation from the new 5G towers.

In Austria, half the population believes that there is something true in this claim: «Secret societies and elites are taking advantage of the crisis and want to establish an authoritarian world order.»

Thirty-eight percent said the same about this: «Bill Gates wants to implant microchips in people with vaccination and thus control them.» (source)

Can you prevent your child from devouring these online?

The report says that those behind the conspiracy theories tend to adapt to the channel’s audience. For example, instead of long dissertations, the statements can be expressed in an illustration or photo with a heading on top, without any further follow-up text.

A lot of people talk about children to learn source criticism. But one cannot expect children to take a deep dive online to check if all allegations hold water. The elements containing hatred or conspiracy theories are something that passes by in the feed as pictures or short video clips. You hardly even take a background check of everything you read on social media.

Can you prepare your child for such negative elements in the apps? One tip might be that you talk more often at dinner about what your children have read or seen online, so you can clear away his mind about fake news, hateful messages, and conspiracy theories before they get attached to those.

Read more English articles here.

(Written and published on 22 October 2021 and translated by Ratan)