🗞️ The New World has published a new article exploring the latest findings from the #SmidgeProject, following an in-depth interview with our Scientific Coordinator, Dr. Sara Wilford. Read the full article here: www.thenewworld.co.uk/zoe-grunewal...

📣New SmidgeCast episode out! In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the #SMIDGEProject to explore the creative and research processes behind the project’s counter-narrative videos, produced by DMU in collaboration with Hamlett Films. 🎧 Listen to the episode: youtube.com/watch?v=JX4X...

📌A new video produced by De Montfort University in collaboration with Hamlett Film , as part of the #SmidgeProject, is now available: youtube.com/watch?v=Bznb... Brain Box – The Climate Quiz Show presents climate change through a combination of news reporting and a Europe-wide quiz show format.

📢 Inclusive Europe & De Montfort University hosted a #SmidgeProject roundtable with journalists to discuss how narratives targeting middle-aged audiences work—and how journalism can better and more responsibly engage this overlooked group. 🔗 Interested to know more? smidgeproject.eu/post/smidge-...

📢 In an article published by @theguardian.com, the #SmidgeProject was highlighted as one of the few initiatives exploring how conspiracy theories and disinformation spread among middle-aged adults. Read the full article here: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

🎞️ Have you had the opportunity to watch “A Family Tea”? This short film, produced by De Montfort University and Hamlett Films for the #SMIDGEProject, explores trust, belonging, and everyday dialogue. 🎥 Watch the full video here: lnkd.in/eMBhr6Cw

📚 Mikkel Bækby Johansen (UCPH) has published a new open access article in Popular Communication as part of the SMIDGE Project: “The Exchange Model of Mainstreaming.” 🔗 Read the full article: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

📢 A Family Tea is out now! Developed by @dmu.ac.uk in collaboration with Hamlett Films, this short film is part of the SMIDGE research project. A Family Tea explores how personal experiences shape conversations about truth, trust, and belonging. 🎥Watch the full video: youtube.com/watch?v=jQeT...

The role of social media in connecting those with far-right views is the subject of a new investigation in The Guardian, drawing on research carried out by DMU’s Dr Sara Wilford. Dr Wilford leads the pioneering Europe-wide SMIDGE project (@smidgeproject.bsky.social).

At the ENgaGE Symposium, part of the GEMS Project, Sara Wilford presented the #Smidgeproject results. The event gathered 72 participants from across Europe to address the exploitation of gaming ecosystems by extremist actors.

📢 New Blog Article: “New Territories, Old Enemies” In this latest piece, Pia-Katharina Pallasch from KCSS explores Germany’s digital journey, from Merkel’s “internet is new territory” to today’s #cybersecurity, #disinformation & extremism challenges. 👉Full article smidgeproject.eu/post/new-ter...

🎧 All 8 episodes of the first ARENAS Podcast are live! Extreme Europe, an eight-part series produced by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona @uab.cat, explores how extremism has taken shape across 10 European countries.

📌Our colleague @linenybro.bsky.social from the University of Copenhagen presented the #SMIDGEProject results at the NordMedia 2025 in Odense, Denmark. Discover more about the conference: nordmedianetwork.org/nordmedia-co... #NORDIS #NordMedia2025

@smidgeproject.bsky.social, a Horizon Europe sister project of ARENAS, explores how extremist narratives affect Europe’s middle-aged populations. SMIDGE Project is currently conducting a survey, and they want to hear from policymakers, companies, platforms, and associations!

🎥 New counter-narrative videos from the SMIDGE Project are coming soon! Jason Lee, Prof. of Film, Media & Culture at De Montfort University, discusses the university’s role in their development. 🔗 Watch the full interview: buff.ly/ZNWoGXq

📌For the past 2 and a half years, the #SmidgeProject has been tackling online extremism and disinformation targeted at middle-aged adults. But what exactly have we achieved so far and what’s coming next? 🎥 Discover our progress, insights, and upcoming initiatives in this video: buff.ly/CtagVVh

A few weeks ago, we shared a blog article by Professor Jason Lee discussing how cryptids like Bigfoot and Mothman are more than just campfire stories; they reflect our cultural anxieties, online identities, and the myths we still crave. If you missed it, you can read it here 👉

📢 SmidgeCast marks its 10th episode with a compelling new discussion. In this edition, we speak with Christian Gulas (FASResearch, Vienna) to explore how moral framing and emotional intensity shape virality—often at the expense of democratic integrity. 🎙️ Listen now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Qp...

AI’s power to track, trace & influence behavior raises big ethical questions for researchers. How do we conduct responsible digital research in an AI-driven world? In the latest episode of #SmidgeCast, Sara Wilford unpacks the challenges of surveillance and algorithmic regulation. 🎧 buff.ly/DjUmZtB

📢 At #ECP2025, Dr. Vasiliki Christodoulou (UCLan Cyprus) shared findings from the EU-funded SMIDGE Project on how core human values influence belief in conspiracies online. Maura de Vos highlighted that boosting reasoning in adults 45–65 can help fight misinformation. 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/ZppWeFH

🔍 What connects Bigfoot, memes, and hauntology? In his new blog, Professor Jason Lee explores how cryptids like Bigfoot and Mothman have become cultural symbols in the digital age, reflecting societal anxieties and environmental concerns. Explore these fascinating connections: buff.ly/jiAKA0X

📢 Missed the SMIDGE webinar “Radicalisation and Extremist Narratives – Quo Vadis?”? Catch up here 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=SRO0... Experts from the #SmidgeProject, @arenasproject.bsky.social and @oppattune.bsky.social shared insights on radicalisation, #disinformation and collaboration across Europe.

📢 The webinar “Radicalisation and Extremist Narratives – Quo Vadis?” has just started! Dr. Sara Wilford opens with an introduction to the #SmidgeProject, sharing key insights and lessons learned so far. @linenybro.bsky.social highlights the work completed and introduces the concept of HYPE.

🎙️ New SmidgeCast episode! How should governments, platforms, and researchers respond to the ethical risks posed by emerging technologies like #AI? Dr. Sara Wilford from DMU shares insights from the #SMIDGEProject on some of today’s biggest ethical challenge👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMdi...

Join us for the 5th #SmidgeWebinar on June 12! Together with researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders, we will explore how to better understand and counter radicalisation, extremist narratives, and #disinformation. 🔗 Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c79b1d...

Good morning from Pristina, Kosovo! 🇽🇰 The Smidge team is ready for a two-day #SmidgeProject consortium meeting. After two years of progress, we are gathering to review work packages and plan our next steps.

📌 Join us for our upcoming #SmidgeWebinar on June 12. This event will be hosted by KCSS in partnership with @inclusiveeurope.bsky.social and will feature speakers from #SMIDGE, @arenasproject.bsky.social and OppAttune

Very happy to finally see our article "Spaces of Hybridized Prefatory Extremism (HYPE) on Social Media" in print on Social Media + Society journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Learn more about Horizon Europe and our sister projects SMIDGE @smidgeproject.bsky.social and OppAttune @oppattune.bsky.social on our website at arenasproject.eu/horizon-euro.... #ARENASproject #HorizonEU #ResponsestoExtremistNarratives #Gender #Nation #Science

During a recent workshop in Gjakova, students from the University of "Fehmi Agani" explored key findings from the #SmidgeProject on radicalization, #extremism & #disinformation. Our colleagues from @KCSS presented insights from reports D4.6 & D4.1. 🔗 Read more: buff.ly/hEs33dz


📢 The SMIDGE Newsletter #4 is Out Now! This edition marks two years of research, collaboration, and action against online extremism and misinformation targeting middle-aged individuals. 📥 Read the full newsletter here: www.smidgeproject.eu/_files/ugd/e...

📢 Another productive SMIDGE consortium meeting in the books! We reflected on our progress and outlined next steps for the final year. Our next meeting will be hosted in Kosovo — and we are looking forward to being in the same room again.

Our third newsletter is on its way! 📩 If you haven't registered yet, now's the perfect time. Sign up at buff.ly/46uxNH4 to stay updated on all the latest news from the SMIDGE Project.

📢 Katrine Krogh Pedersen presented research co-authored with @linenybro.bsky.social at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference in Chicago. The presentation was titled “Far-Right Campaigning Through Fan Edits and Authored Content in the Dilley Meme Team.”

🗞️ New Interview Alert Dr. @Sara_Wilford spoke with Japan’s leading newspaper @nikkei about the #SMIDGEProject — urging a shift in focus and highlighting how middle-aged individuals are key players in misinformation and radicalisation. To know more:

🔍 Why do conspiracy theories persist even when debunked? Vesa Shatri (@KCSSQKSS) explores how the SMIDGE Database helps researchers, journalists, and everyday users track and analyse misleading narratives. 🔗To read the full article: www.smidgeproject.eu/post/counter...

📢 Giovanni Ziccardi's powerful reminder: "Keep Calm, Double-Check and Be Skeptical." In today’s information overload, pausing to confirm facts and seek diverse perspectives is crucial to prevent misinformation from spreading. Listen to the latest SmidgeCast: buff.ly/fQCmEvJ #Misinformation

New from @TITAN_Thinking: Why Critical Thinking is More Important Than Ever? In an age of information overload, critical thinking is essential. With disinformation spreading fast and algorithms shaping perception, independent analysis is crucial. Learn more: buff.ly/g5HYGuY

#Misinformation has always existed, but in our digital age, it spreads faster. The challenge is not spotting the lies but having the time to check them. Listen to the new# SmidgeCast episode here: buff.ly/fQCmEvJ

A recent report from @edmo-eu.bsky.social explores #AI's role in combating online #disinformation. It highlights automated fact-checking, text analysis, and deepfake detection, while addressing AI's potential, limitations, & ethical challenges. 🔗 Read more:

🎙️ New SmidgeCast episode! Who should be responsible for fact-checking in the digital age? Where’s the line between regulation & free speech? We discuss it all with Prof. Giovanni Ziccardi from the University of Milan. Listen to the full episode here: buff.ly/6MkefCu

SMIDGE’s latest article by Vesa Shatri from KCSS explores how SMIDGE’s research informs policy and practice, tracking extremist messaging across platforms like TikTok and Telegram. 🔗 To know more: buff.ly/ITQE6yB

Who is driving online hate on Facebook? A new study on Danish online debates reveals concerning findings: 👥 56% of all hate comments come from users aged 40-63. 📊 A tiny 0.2% of users are behind 30% of all hate comments. 📌 1 in 20 comments on political/media pages is an attack. buff.ly/3HWtILi

📌 Productive meeting with our SMIDGE Project consortium partners today! We're diligently refining our counter-narratives and are excited to soon release impactful outputs. Stay tuned! Learn more about the #Smidgeproject 👉 https://buff.ly/3COhpbz

How do extremist ideas spread online? The latest SMIDGE blog by the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies explores the rise of far-right narratives, their risks, and how the SMIDGE database supports ongoing research. Read here: https://buff.ly/43d52kb

What if fighting misinformation isn’t about repeating facts, but about starting better conversations? Science myths - from vaccine falsehoods to climate denial - thrive when people feel disconnected from expertise. So how do we bridge that gap? Interesting read from @theconversation.com :

🔔 Special Issue Alert! 🔔 We are excited about this special issue ! 📢 "How do digital & social media fuel alternative identities, extreme narratives & online communities in times of crisis?" Be apart of the conversation! 📝 🔸 #EverydayExtremism #OppAttune 🔸 Get engaged & join our community!

📢 Did you miss the 4th SMIDGE Webinar? Watch it now on YouTube channel: https://buff.ly/4gAjAwV We explored how manipulative narratives, misinformation & extremist propaganda spread online—fueling division &, in some cases, leading to violence.

Bsky, I have a meme-challenge for you. As part of @smidgeproject.bsky.social we will be creating counter content to push people ~ a smidge ~ back up the rabbit hole. Send me your memes and gifs that might make someone engaged in conspiracy theories think twice

Context is king! In an era of photos, videos, and voice notes, it is easier than ever to present the facts as something they are not. This is a common tactic used by disinformation spreaders to blur the line between fact and fiction. Here is how to spot when context is being manipulated.