WHY?
DigiTools shows you how teenagers may be radicalised online. The goal of the interactive story is to illustrate how disinformation, filter bubbles and echo chambers are used to manipulate people and how you can avoid falling victim to violent extremism online.
HOW?
You get to follow Lucas, a 15-year old boy, as he is drawn into extremist content online. The comic-style story is accompanied by interactive quizzes allowing you to apply the things you just learned to real-world scenarios. While the story is fictitious, an effort was made to make it as realistic and inclusive as possible.
WHO?
DigiTools was developed by a team of Law and International Relations students at King's College London for the Rule of Law Innovation Challenge - a competition run by the international legal charity 'Lawyers Without Borders'.
How to
Help a Friend
Radicalisation can occur in your personal environment without targeting you directly. Instead, a friend, classmate or sibling of yours might get drawn into (online) extremism. To know what you can do to help, remember 3 steps.
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💬 Dialogue.Checking in with friends is always a good idea. This is no different if you think your friend might be getting radicalised. Approach your friend: Start a conversation. Consider where and when your friend feels at ease and you can talk uninterruptedly. Also, be mindful of their privacy when other people are around. Listen to them: Don’t judge and don’t interrupt. Ask for their opinion. Encourage them to ask you questions. If asked give your own opinion. Give information and support: Don’t blame your friend, be respectful, consider giving information about (de-)radicalisation, and offer support to find help.
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👀 Is this Radicalisation?Persons in a radicalisation process might typically respond to the process by: isolating themselves from family and friends (for example, by hanging out with a completely new group, loosing interest in previous hobbies) being unable or unwilling to discuss their views and attitudes with others showing an increased level of anger (for example, by continuously blaming others, or sudden hostility against others) spending an increasing amount of time online (this can include sharing extreme views on social media, being secretive around internet use.
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👥 Support is available!Both you and your friend might appreciate professional help at this point. The following services are trustworthy and specialised in radicalisation: ACT Early Support Line: 0800 011 3764 (for details click here) Channel: a confidential and voluntary multi-agency safeguarding programme (for referral contact local police or council) Online service to report harmful content you see online, such as threats, online abuse and bullying (for details click here) Call 999 if you are reporting a crime that is in progress or if someone is in immediate danger.
