Click Here A new playbook for online extremism
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Nov 21, 2025 Milo Comerford, Director of Policy and Research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, dives deep into the rapidly evolving landscape of online extremism. He emphasizes the alarming trend of youth vulnerability due to social media's role in providing identity and belonging. Milo critiques the UK's Prevent program, urging a shift towards addressing emotional environments rather than just policing content. He advocates for designing safer platforms, engaging bystanders, and adopting a public-health approach to mitigate risks effectively.
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Influence Replaces Ideology Online
- Social media replaced parts of real life for many kids and blurred boundaries between ideas, jokes, and violence.
- Milo Comerford says influence, not ideology, now fuels online extremism and shortens the path to harm.
Belonging Drives Vulnerability
- Vulnerability comes from identity, belonging, and feeling seen on platforms rather than clear ideological signs.
- Milo Comerford warns preventing this requires assessing risk without profiling entire communities.
Push Upstream Regulation Of Platforms
- Regulate platforms to design safety into environments, not just police individual posts.
- Enforce transparency, ban targeted ads to minors, and hold companies financially accountable, Milo says.