Overview

• Under-18s now account for 13% of MI5 terrorism investigations, up from 4% three years ago, highlighting younger gamers’ vulnerability.
• The Frontiers in Psychology study by Dr William Allchorn and Dr Elisa Orofino uses interviews with platform moderators, tech experts and counter-extremism professionals to map extremist tactics.
• Extremist narratives on gaming sites span white supremacist, neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic views, alongside rarer Islamist-inspired content and school-shooting glorification.
• Coordinated funneling from mainstream social media directs users into less regulated gaming platforms where moderation struggles to keep pace.
• Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5 and the National Crime Agency warn parents about heightened risks during the school holidays and stress the need for stronger digital literacy education.