Hazel Woodrow (she/her) (@hazelwoodrow.bsky.social)

19thnews on Instagram: "The Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University has created resource kits for parents, educ…" The Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University has created resource kits for parents, educators, coaches and faith leaders to help battle radicalization and gender-based bigotry among youth. Cynthia Miller-Idriss (@milleridriss), the founding director at PERIL and the author of “Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism,” urges caregivers of all kinds to talk to kids about “gendered grievance narratives and propaganda that comes across their phones so they recognize and reject it when they see it.”In today’s ultra-connected world, kids are going to run into rhetoric about gender roles that doesn’t match the values their parents want them to live out in the world. Small comments about gender can lead into a radicalization pipeline, where boys in particular can be swarmed with content blaming women and girls for their personal problems. The best way to prevent misogyny and disrupt the road to violent extremism is to address it head-on with your kids. They’re talking about it — you should, too. Have exploratory conversations about your kid’s life online. If they parrot a specific influencer, ask what appeals to them about that person’s content. If you hear hateful or disrespectful comments, intervene; silence is viewed as acceptance. Make sure they understand how algorithms work to reward outrageous behavior and encourage them to examine whether someone is trying to sell a product or an easy fix to a complicated problem.It’s important to start conversations from a perspective of curiosity, not judgment. Ask your kids what they think about the messages about gender they are receiving from their peers and the internet. Listen to solutions they offer about how to change the attitudes of other young people, or what they think adults should do to address sexism and misogyny.In the words of young people Miller-Idriss has interviewed, “just don’t make it preachy.”✍️: @jazzmyth, data and technology reporter🎨: Sarah Porter for The 19thView all comments https://www.instagram.com/p/DPU6s_8DL2a/?igsh=MXZ1Zjd3cGtvcnNiNw==