Everyday Extremism

This chapter introduces the concept of everyday extremism: namely, the regular encountering of extremist attitudes – such as racism, sexism, conspiracy theories, and militarism – within mainstream digital spaces like social media, news platforms, and gaming such that they become normalised and widely accepted. Everyday extremism significantly impacts public discourse, contributing to social polarisation and civic disengagement and driving many to online behaviour populated within echo chambers and marked by self-censorship, so silencing diverse voices. This chapter distinguishes everyday extremism from related ideas like mainstreaming and borderline content, emphasising its growing influence and implications. It is often disguised as ‘humorous banter’ yet has serious implications for mental health and online participation. Current policy responses, focused on banning individuals or removing specific content, are insufficient. Instead, this chapter calls for legal frameworks and industry practices centred on promoting safer, more inclusive online environments to counteract the ‘toxic citizenship’ which is flourishing online.