Description
Attempts to move right wing extremist groups/communities from online platforms has resulted in a move to ‘darker’ sites such as encrypted apps and online spaces that are less restrictive. There is a growing need to further research the uses, networks, cultures, and audiences, both within and across platforms. This research can then be used to design effective response(s). Macdonald et al (2022) recent report highlights this, their results show no discernible evidence pointing to out-linking being utilised to direct users to violent extremist spaces. However, there is room for further research here to employ a similar methodology to examine how the far-right is utilising out-linking and examining where these linking are directing their potential audience (Conway et al 2022, Berger 2022). It is possible that by hopping from one platform to another, the far-right are evading policies set up by platforms such as Twitter to ban the spread of hate online. Through the collection of data using common Far-right hashtags employed on Twitter, this paper will be able to answer how the far right are using Twitter as a communication tool. Decipher discernible patterns to any external websites that are being linked in tweets and highlight further need to monitor the actions. This paper discuss the need for automation of labelling data collection to assist in further effective examination of this area by enabling researchers to spend more time appraising work/review of content as required.
