Oh God, What Now? Lost in the Far-Right Funhouse – How bots and fakes create a false, angry Britain
Dec 9, 2025
Olivia Brown, an Associate Professor in Digital Futures at the University of Bath, dives into the murky waters of online far-right extremism. She reveals how a handful of accounts manipulate narratives, particularly around events like the Southport incident, to distort public opinion. Discussions cover the role of bots and AI in amplifying harmful content, the impact of Elon Musk's changes on Twitter/X, and the way online interactions can inadvertently bolster extremist views. Olivia also highlights the need for better moderation and accountability to combat these trends.
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Small Group Drives Massive Influence
- A tiny minority of prolific accounts produces most political content and sets the online agenda.
- Olivia Brown says about 90% of content on X is produced by 10% of users, which distorts perceived public opinion.
Platform Shifts Amplify Extremes
- Platform changes and reinstated accounts both widened acceptable content on X.
- Olivia Brown links Elon Musk's takeover, moderation shifts and algorithm tweaks to increased radical content visibility.
Attacks Become Narrative Moments
- After tragedies, a handful of prolific accounts push pre-existing narratives instantly.
- Olivia Brown describes how accounts quickly claimed Southport involved a 'Muslim migrant' and propelled that framing to the top.
