Scroll through any social media platform, maybe dig into some politics or news and notice how with only a few clicks you’re consumed with extremist content. Once tucked away on more fringe platforms like X (Twitter), Reddit, and Facebook are now available for anybody to engage with. While algorithms continue to feed content that is used for maximizing engagement, they’re unable to differentiate between trends and propaganda. As a result, extremist platforms are only an opinion away from getting into the mainstream media– allowing them influence over younger generations.
Debate or Propaganda?
It’s important to recognize when the media we’re consuming is propaganda, and what platforms are consistently spreading it; such as Jubilee releasing a video entitled “1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives”. Jubilee is known for their debate-form content, this video being one of them, but a video that should’ve been about educating turned into giving a platform for a self-proclaimed fascist. Content should be about educating, but when giving platforms to Neo-Nazi’s is seen as ok– it’s time to reflect on why history is so important now. It’s only been 80 years since World War 2, an estimated 85 million people lost their lives, because of facism’s inextricable hold over countries around the world. Jubilee isn’t the only one giving platforms to extremists; TikTok, Instagram, and even news channels like Fox News or Patribotics consistently allow the spread of propaganda without restrictions. Extremism doesn’t stop or start on one side, but as opposing parties become more polarized, countries begin to split.
A Divide
America is experiencing an extreme divide because of political extremism, whether you are a Republican or Democrat this problem is affecting all of us. Laws banning abortion, deporting innocent people without due process, lack of restrictions on guns, the establishment of religion in schools, and all of this because of a divide. America has become the opposite of many of its values, politics shouldn’t be about who can go farther, but about supporting fellow Americans and making our country move forward for the better, this level of extremism shouldn’t be normalized– hundreds of mass shootings every year isn’t normal, seeing political figures being shot and even killed isn’t either. Empathy isn’t universal, but understanding right from wrong is.
The Shifting Perception of Hate
Extremism thrives when we allow it to be heard, when propaganda is disguised as entertainment, and when hate is considered just an opinion. It’s becoming more dangerous as people begin to stop questioning it altogether. Something Americans used to mutually laugh about is now normalized in our daily lives, and this new level of desensitization is exactly what gives ground to these dangerous ideologies. But normalization doesn’t have to be accepted– but rather chosen. We can choose what to consume, and what to speak up about, to demand platforms for better regulations about the content they approve to be shared– there’s a difference between free speech and fear-mongering.
Resistance over Complacency
We have to take responsibility to remain educated, and to resist complacency, because no matter your race, social class, or background all of us are affected by the actions of extremism. Don’t allow for the normalization of fascist or anarchist extremism, push for the change Americans and the world needs.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana
