SRL Talks #1: Exploring the Demand Side of Online Radicalization
Date: December 24, 2024
Organizer: Security Studies and Rule of Law Association (SRL Swiss)
Guest Speakers: Davut Akça and Mehmet Fatih Baştuğ
The first event in the SRL Talks series explored the “demand side” of online radicalization, focusing on why individuals seek out, consume and engage with extremist content in digital environments.
In this webinar, Davut Akça and Mehmet Fatih Baştuğ examined the role of social media, online communities and digital communication in radicalization processes. The discussion addressed how online exposure to extremist narratives may interact with personal motivations, identity, belonging and patterns of digital engagement.
The webinar also considered why certain individuals may become more receptive to extremist content and how these dynamics can be better understood through a demand-side perspective. Rather than focusing only on the production or distribution of online extremist material, the session highlighted the importance of examining the motivations and behaviours of the audiences who interact with such content.
The discussion placed these issues within the broader fields of radicalization prevention, security and social resilience, emphasizing the value of research-based approaches to understanding online behaviour and developing effective preventive responses.