Online Radicalization
Youth today have access to the whole world on a screen the size of a credit card. The problem is, the whole world has the same access to your children. Alongside all the wonderful opportunities for youth to communicate with others from a vast variety of backgrounds, sharing ideas, playing and learning together, our youngsters are also at risk for being targets of violent extremists whose mission is to radicalize those who are most vulnerable.
The links below offer information on what radicalization leading to violence is, how it happens, and how to protect our children. At the bottom of the list, you will find a website created by the FBI entitled “Don’t be a Puppet,” an interactive site designed for youth to help them recognize what violent extremism is and learn how radicalization occurs online. This is a great website to go through together with your child as it will spark much discussion.
Definition of radicalization leading to violence
The Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV) defines it as follows:
A process whereby people adopt extremist belief systems—including the willingness to use, encourage or facilitate violence—with the aim of promoting an ideology, political project or cause as a means of social transformation.
https://info-radical.org/en/radicalization/definition/
Recognizing Violent Radicalization
The “Behavior Barometer,” created by The Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, helps you learn the warning signs in a youth’s behavior that may indicate radicalization is taking place.
The Factors Leading to Violent Radicalization
(This is a PDF file of a poster produced by The Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence.)
https://info-radical.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/three-main-categories-cprlv.pdf
Vulnerability Factors and Protective Factors
The Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence
A Teacher’s Guide on the Prevention of Violent Extremism
By Unesco
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002446/244676e.pdf
How do I talk about it with my child?
(This is a PDF file of a booklet produced by The Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence)
https://info-radical.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/how-do-i-talk-about-it-with-my-child-cprlv-1.pdf
A Hunt for Ways to Combat Online Radicalization
By Farhad Manjoo, The New York Times, Aug. 23, 2017
Understanding extremist right-wing radicalization from the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violenc.e.
Counter Radicalisation of Youth, Prashan de Visser, TEDxUND.
FBI Website
“Don’t be a Puppet” - an interactive website designed by the FBI to help young people recognize the process of radicalization and development of violent extremism.
“How do Violent Extremists Make Contact?” is the specific page on the FBI website that helps young people learn how radicalization occurs online.