Israel-Iran Escalation Triggers Surge in Online Conspiracies and Antisemitic Rhetoric
On Thursday June 12th, Israel launched a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to retaliate with over 400 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities. In the week following, the BSA Command Center has recorded an 165% increase in social media conversations related to antisemitism, Jewish culture, and Israel—the largest spike since Hamas’s October 7th […]
Weaponizing History: How the Gestapo Is Invoked in American Politics
In today’s polarized political climate, Holocaust-era comparisons have become increasingly common on social media. One example is the term “Gestapo,” once reserved for describing the Nazi regime’s brutal secret police, the term is now being used to label modern U.S. law enforcement agencies. Our analysis of social media data from 2017 to 2024 shows a […]
When Remembrance Is Exploited: Antisemitic Narratives Spike Around Memorial Day
Memorial Day has become an opportunistic flashpoint for antisemitic conspiracy theories online. New data shows a disturbing surge in explicitly hateful content tied to the holiday.
When Hate Goes Viral: Barstool Bar Incident Ignites Extremist Networks and Online Fundraising
A viral antisemitic incident at a Philadelphia bar triggered national outrage—and a troubling wave of online hate. What began as a local encounter has morphed into a magnet for extremists, conspiracy theorists, and fundraising off bigotry.
Holocaust Denial Adapts for the Social Media Age
Holocaust denial and distortion are mutating online, where memes, pseudo-history, and other misinformation recycle old conspiracies for new audiences. As the number of living survivors dwindles, the burden of safeguarding historical truth shifts to future generations confronting these digital falsehoods.
From Trend to Hate: The Hidden Language of Emojis Online
Emojis are no longer just playful visuals—they’re being used to spread hate. From 🧃 and 🦎 to 🔻 and 🙋, online communities are embedding antisemitic and conspiratorial messages in everyday symbols to avoid detection.
Conspiracy Myth Deep Dive: The Blood Libel
The blood libel hasn’t disappeared—it’s adapted. In modern times, it reemerges as claims that Jews deliberately harm the innocent, echoing old antisemitic myths.
Ask Grok Introduced on X: What Does This Mean for Misinformation?
X’s new AI feature, “Ask @Grok,” has quickly become a central player in online discourse—fielding millions of user questions across all topics. But as antisemitism-related prompts surge, Grok finds itself simultaneously challenging hateful narratives and being manipulated to echo them.
Meta’s Moderation Rollback: A Gateway to Hate
Meta’s rollback of content moderation has opened the door to dangerous hate speech across its platforms. With leaked materials revealing shocking examples of now-permitted posts, experts warn this policy shift will fuel a rise in antisemitic and other hateful content—mirroring troubling trends seen on X.
Hate Speech in Disguise: Coded Language Becomes More Mainstream
Since 2024, mentions of TJD and its variations have proliferated across social media, with significant increases observed on platforms like X, Reddit, YouTube, and TikTok. This surge has raised concerns among watchdog groups, who warn that the mainstreaming of these coded phrases could further normalize extremist rhetoric.
‘Jews Control’ Conspiracy Theory: Trends and Shifts
The phrase “Jews control ____” reflects one of the oldest conspiracy theories, used online in moderate amounts for over a decade—until 2022. Since then, its usage has surged, growing from around 10,000 mentions per month to 45,000 this past month, the highest in five years.
Holocaust-Related Speech and Mockery Escalate on Social Media
Sharp Uptick in Antisemitic Content For example, the antisemitic account TheOfficial1984 posted a compilation video of Adolf Hitler and modern-day examples of people making Nazi salutes with the caption “If this doesn’t inspire you and fill you with hope for a better future and a better America…. Chances are…. you are jewish. THERE IS ONLY […]