Right-wing extremist youth groups on the internet: danger to our society!

Right-wing extremist youth groups on the internet: danger to our society!

In Germany there is a worrying increase in right-wing extremist youth groups, such as “Unitas Germanica”, “Zellern-Jugend Aktiv” and “Störtrupp Süd”. Not only are these groups new, they are also connecting at an alarming rate via social media. The Baden-Württemberg Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified many of these groups as neo-Nazi. Loud Rhine Palatinate Right-wing extremist agitation in virtual space has increased significantly since the summer of 2024.

The security authorities are concerned and assess the potential for violence of these young right-wing extremists to be high. Enemies include people of Muslim faith and foreigners. People from the left-wing political spectrum are also in their crosshairs. The LGBTQ community in particular is seen by these groups as a “door opener” to the right-wing extremist scene.

Radicalization online

The digital world plays a crucial role in radicalization. A brochure from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, published in September 2024, examines in detail how the Internet is used as a platform for the spread of right-wing extremist ideologies. The publication entitled “Right-wing extremism on the Internet: Dangers of digital agitation and radicalization” sheds light on how young people find influence and are mobilized in online spaces. The use of various internet platforms for self-expression and networking is analyzed, such as Protection of the Constitution reported.

This digital networking can be very effective. The online media landscape not only offers new opportunities for identity formation, but also reinforces the feeling of belonging to a supposedly like-minded community. Right-wing extremist actors cleverly use crisis situations such as the refugee crisis or the corona pandemic to spread their ideologies.

Emotional mobilization and violent potential

Developments on the Internet have also led to extremist content achieving a high reach. Emotional reactions that can often be observed in digital conflicts are deliberately staged as “us against them”. The danger is underlined by right-wing terrorist attacks - such as in Christchurch or Halle - as well as by political events such as the storming of the US Capitol and the attempted storming of the German Bundestag. According to the assessment, these incidents clearly show the potential for violence that lies dormant in right-wing extremist online subcultures Federal Agency for Civic Education.

The President of Thuringia for the Protection of the Constitution has already warned of a new right-wing youth culture and “turbo-radicalization”. It is clear: combating this phenomenon is not only a social task, but also a challenge for state institutions. Civil society and political leaders must take action now to counteract these tendencies and create a safe environment for everyone.