Overview

• Anglia Ruskin University research finds that gaming-adjacent platforms host primarily far-right content alongside Islamist extremism and school-shooting glorification, exploiting weak oversight to radicalize young gamers.
• The study shows extremists use matchmaking features in hyper-masculine first-person shooter games to build quick rapport before moving recruits to less-regulated chat services.
• Content moderators report being overwhelmed by high chat volumes and hidden symbols, with AI tools unable to detect memes, sarcasm or stitched-together extremist iconography.
• Experts warn that these platforms evade social media regulations, leading to calls for updated moderation policies and for law enforcement to engage with gaming subcultures.
• UK security agencies have urged parents and educators to boost digital literacy to counter increased youth targeting during the summer holidays.