Education is key preparing our children and young people for life in a modern and diverse Britain.
Protecting children and young people from the risk of radicalisation forms part of schools’ wider safeguarding duties, alongside protecting children from other harms, such as drugs, criminal and sexual exploitation.
There’s no single way of identifying whether a child, young person or adult learner is likely to be susceptible to an extremist ideology or vulnerable to radicalisation.
The process of radicalisation is different for every individual and can take place over a long period, or it can be very quick.
However, there are things that education settings can do to counter extreme ideologies and build their students’ resilience to radicalisation and extremism, such as teaching about extreme right-wing ideologies, Islamist extremism or discussing fundamental British values with students.
Children and young people are vulnerable to radicalisation and schools have a crucial role in protecting them or if needed, referring them via the Government’s Prevent programme.
In 2016, the government launched the Educate Against Hate website, that provides over 100 free resources for teachers and school leaders to support the promotion of these values.
The website provides teachers, school leaders and parents with the information, guidance and support they need to challenge radical views and keep children safe, including from online extremist influences.
There are resources, such as the interactive learning platform ‘Going Too Far?’ which teaches young people about staying safe online from radicalisation and other forms of harm.
What is radicalisation?
Radicalisation is a process by which individuals, often young people, move from supporting moderate mainstream views to supporting extreme ideological views.
This process can occur online through exposure to and engagement with violent ideological propaganda, or offline through extremist networks.
Radicalisation makes those at risk more likely to support terrorism and violent acts of extremism, and possibly even commit such criminal acts themselves.
Radicalisation: Facts and statistics
The number of right-wing extremist pieces of content investigated by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit surged from three in 2016 to 222 in 2020 – a 74-fold rise
More than 1,600 children under the age of 15 were referred to a government anti-terror scheme (PREVENT programme) according to figures
Learners are at risk of accessing inappropriate and harmful extremist content online. There is a rapid proliferation of terrorist content online and the internet has become the preferred avenue for those searching for terrorist propaganda.
This could include downloading or sharing terrorist material, which could be a criminal offence.
The most recent data published shows the continued high numbers of under 18’s being arrested for terrorism offences.
The latest data indicates that 14% of those arrested year ending 31st March 2023 were 17 and under.
How could a child or young adult become radicalised?
Young people may be vulnerable to a range of risks as they pass through adolescence.
They may be exposed to new influences and potentially risky behaviours, influence from peers, influence from older people, or the internet as they may begin to explore ideas and issues around their identity.
There is no single driver of radicalisation, nor is there a single journey to becoming radicalised.
The internet creates more opportunities to become radicalised, since it’s a worldwide 24/7 medium that allows you to find and meet people who share and will reinforce your opinions.
Research tells us that the internet and face-to-face communications work in tandem, with online activity allowing a continuous dialogue to take place.
Children and young adults who are vulnerable to grooming for sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation or county lines, may also be vulnerable to radicalisation.
Factors could include things like being a victim or witness of crime, abuse or bullying, or having personal or emotional difficulties.
Adverse childhood experiences, combined with specific influences from family and peers or online connections, may make someone more susceptible to radicalisation.
Why could social networking be a concern?
A child or young adult may actively search for content that is considered radical, or they could be persuaded to do so by others.
Social media sites, like Facebook, Snap Chat, TikTok and X – formally known as Twitter, can be used by extremists looking to identify, target, and contact young people.
It’s easy to pretend to be someone else on the internet, so children can sometimes end up having conversations with people whose real identities they may not know, and who may encourage them to embrace extreme views and beliefs.
Often children will be asked to continue discussions, not via mainstream social media, but via platforms, such as Omegle.
Moving the conversation to less mainstream platforms can give users a greater degree of anonymity and can be less easy to monitor.
People who encourage young people to do this are not always strangers. In many situations, they may already have met them, through their family or social activities, and then use the internet to build rapport with them.
Sometimes children don’t realise that their beliefs have been shaped by others, and think that the person is their friend, mentor, boyfriend, or girlfriend and has their best interests at heart.
What are the signs to look out for?
There are a number of signs to be aware of (although a lot of them are quite common among teens). Generally, parents should look out for increased instances of:
- Being secretive about who they’ve been talking to online and what sites they visit
- A move from expressing moderate views to following more extreme views
- A sudden conviction that their religion, culture or beliefs are under threat and treated unjustly
- A conviction that the only solution to this threat is violence or war
- Lack of feeling of belonging or a desperate need to find acceptance within a group
- Displaying intolerant views to people of other races, religions or political beliefs
The following resources provide guidance for parents and carers to keep children safe online.
- Thinkuknow by the National Crime Agency – Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (NCA-CEOP) provides resources for parents and carers and children of all ages to help keep children safe online
- Childnet has developed guidance for parents and carers to begin a conversation about online safety, as well as guidance on keeping under-5s safe online
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has guidance for parents and carers to help keep children safe online
- UK Safer Internet Centre provides tips and advice for parents and carers to keep children safe online – you can also report any harmful content found online through the UK Safer Internet Centre
