Serkan Unsal

Decoding Extremism: How Media Literacy Can Counter Online Radicalization Media & Learning Association - April 23, 2025

Project AntiAnti

Speaker: Serkan Ünsal Organization: medialepfade.org

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medialepfade.org As an association for media education, medialepfade.org develops innovative concepts to explore new media pathways of learning and participation.

Example Projects Jugend Hackt (Coding for youth) DataSkop (Understanding algorithms) ULAT (Unlearning Anti-feminism on TikTok) Media Competence Center in Berlin, Lichtenberg 2

Project AntiAnti @wirsindantianti

Founded: 2018 in Berlin, 2024 in Brandenburg Pedagogical Approaches: Media Education, Political Education, Primary/Universal Prevention Areas of Focus: Extreme Right, Anti-Semitism, Conspiracy Ideology, Anti-Feminism, Disinformation Project Pillars: Workshops for Young People, Training for Educational Professionals 3

Our Prevention Framework

Key educational pillars: Media literacy integrated with political education Critical thinking in political contexts Decoding subliminal extremist online-narratives Understanding platform mechanics and business models Building ambiguity tolerance

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Methodological Approach

Media criticism + active media production Creating safe analysis spaces (i.e. by simulating platform interfaces for controlled analysis) Balancing authentic examples with ethical concerns Participatory learning structures

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Dagstuhl Triangle

Based on the Dagstuhl Triangle for Digital Education (GI, 2016) 6

Current Challenges in Germany AfD performance among first-time voters (recent elections) Influence of right-wing actors on TikTok (Tjaden et al.

2024) Online-offline connection: Digital mobilization leading to real-world actions Shifting discourse boundaries: Previously extreme positions becoming normalized

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Focus Platforms and Content Types Platforms we analyze: TikTok (primary focus for recent work) Instagram Messenger services (Telegram) Content types we target: Pseudo-journalistic formats Lifestyle-embedded political messaging Trend-based extremist content Coded language and symbols

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Engagement Logic and Platform Mechanics Algorithms favor provocative content that generates reactions Engagement increases as content approaches platform policy boundaries Emotionally charged content gets more views and reactions

Ellison, J., Kao, J., & Merrill, J. (2023). "Using Facebook's Own Data to Understand the Platform's Role in Jan. 6."

How this is exploited: Actors deliberately approach but don't cross moderation boundaries Content is designed to maximize emotional responses Platform mechanics are studied and exploited

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The Role of Sounds on TikTok

Sounds function as content, meme, and hashtag simultaneously New target groups are reached through strategic sound use Sound creates emotional connection and recognition 10

New Right Aesthetics

"Fashwave" and "Tradwave" aesthetics use specific visual styles Glorification of "traditional" lifestyles Pop culture references with extremist political messages subtly introduced

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Historical Revisionism

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Ex. "Ketzer der Neuzeit"

Pseudo-Journalism

Successful formats are copied (e.g. street surveys) Normalization of right-wing ideologies Appearance, speech, and filming locations not associated with right-wing ideology 13

Specific Online-Strategies

Dogwhistling: Using coded language understood by insiders (e.g., "drink milk everyday") Hashtag hijacking: Taking over trending hashtags for ideological purposes ("Stolz"-Monat)

🐸 🥝, ...)

Specific emojis as coded signals ( , Numerical codes (18, 28, 88, ...)

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Hitlergruß

Quelle: https://www.belltower.news/hass-emojis-welche-emojis-sind-bei-nazis-rechtsradikalen-rassistinnen-beliebt-113061/

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Method Showcase: Anti-Feminism TikTok Puzzle (Prototype)

Purpose: Decode implicit anti-feminist messages Target age: 14+ years Duration: 45-60 minutes

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Method Showcase: Analysis Dimensions Screen as game board

Rating what drives algorithmic engagement

Analyzing comments and hashtags

Content domains

Dissecting comments

Identifying common extremist narratives

Strategic use of emotions

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Key Insights

Recognition of cross-domain influence Understanding of engagement-driven amplification Identification of emotional manipulation techniques Patterns across different content types Shift in understanding from "what I like" to "how this is designed to influence me"

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Current Situation and Next Steps Challenges: Growing demand exceeds our resources Increasing polarization in classrooms Digital divides in access and literacy Looking forward: Further integration into school curricula Building long-term school partnerships Expanded teacher training programs Disseminating open educational resources 19

Contact & Resources

Thank You Contact: Serkan Ünsal serkan.uensal@medialepfade.org Websites: wirsindantianti.org (AntiAnti) antiantifeminism.org (ULAT) medialepfade.org 20