🎬 Our documentary 'Middle Rage – Social Media and the War on Democracy' is now live! Exploring how social media, disinformation and online narratives shape democracy - focusing on middle-aged audiences. Watch now 👇 youtube.com/watch?v=lrnq... #MiddleRage #SmidgeProject #Disinformation #Democracy

Middle Rage - Social Media and the War on Democracy | SMIDGE Documentary

YouTube video by Smidge Project

youtube.com

It rarely starts with one big conspiracy. It starts with curiosity. Then doubt. Then immersion. And before you know it… You’ve been carried away. #SmidgeProject #CounterNarratives

Sometimes the loudest explanations aren’t the most accurate ones. Disinformation simplifies complex problems and redirects blame. Asking better questions is the first step toward better answers. #CriticalThinking #SmidgeProject #CounterNarratives

Every day online, we face these choices: ➡️ Follow evidence ➡️ Or follow what confirms what we already believe Disinformation doesn’t spread by accident. It spreads by decision. Which road would you take? #MediaLiteracy #SmidgeProject #ConspiracyTheories

When misinformation gets loud enough, it can drown out everything else. Including facts, dialogue and trust. #SmidgeProject #CounterNarratives #Misinformation #Disinformation #ConspiracyTheories

“This is fine.” Sometimes denial isn’t loud. It’s quiet. Comfortable. Familiar. But ignoring evidence doesn’t make the fire disappear. What makes us accept comforting narratives over uncomfortable truths? #SMIDGE #Disinformation #Climate

A reminder that our event “Addressing Extremism in Middle Age” is taking place on Tuesday, 24 February, in Westminster. 🔗 You can register to confirm your attendance here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/addressing...

As part of the SMIDGE project’s counter-narrative work, the University of Copenhagen has produced 27 pieces of micro-content, including memes and a GIF, addressing the spread of #disinformation and conspiracy theories across social media platforms. 🔗 www.smidgeproject.eu/counter-narr...

There are still a limited number of places available for our upcoming Westminster event: 📅 24 February 2026 | 🕔 17:00–20:00 📍 Atlee Room, Westminster, London 🔗 Register here: lnkd.in/eRCU78ZJ

📣 Join us in Westminster on 24 February! This final event of the SMIDGE project brings together policymakers, researchers, civil society, media, and security experts to address how online extremist narratives reach and influence middle-aged adults. 🔗 Register here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/addressing...

Addressing extremism in middle age

Open to a diverse group, including members of the UK Parliament & representatives of UK & EU institutions, policymakers & practitioners

eventbrite.co.uk

On 29 January, the SMIDGE International Conference was held in Brussels, marking a key milestone after three years of research into online extremism among middle-aged adults. 🔗 Read the full article: smidgeproject.eu/post/three-y... 🎥 Watch the conference recordings: youtube.com/@SmidgeProject

Three Years of SMIDGE: Brussels Conference Examines Online Extremism Among Middle-Aged Adults

Brussels, 29 January 2026  On 29 January 2026, following three impactful years of research and collaboration of the SMIDGE project, policymakers, researchers, journalists and civil society representa...

smidgeproject.eu

@jamesrball.com In my experience it's the middle aged who have the biggest problem!

Smidge Project@smidgeproject.bsky.social · 6mo ago

📢 The SMIDGE Project conference is just one day away. The Conference brings together policymakers, researchers, journalists, civil society, and practitioners to discuss online extremism and #disinformation and their impact on middle-aged adults in Europe. 📍 Brussels | 📅 29 January 2026

Today is the day! Closing of the SMIDGE project in style

Smidge Project@smidgeproject.bsky.social · 6mo ago

📢 The SMIDGE Project conference is just one day away. The Conference brings together policymakers, researchers, journalists, civil society, and practitioners to discuss online extremism and #disinformation and their impact on middle-aged adults in Europe. 📍 Brussels | 📅 29 January 2026

📢 The SMIDGE Project conference is just one day away. The Conference brings together policymakers, researchers, journalists, civil society, and practitioners to discuss online extremism and #disinformation and their impact on middle-aged adults in Europe. 📍 Brussels | 📅 29 January 2026

ARENAS joins its #HorizonEU sister project SMIDGE @smidgeproject.bsky.social in inviting policymakers, journalists, researchers, and practitioners to the international conference “The Invisible Middle: Understanding Online Extremism in Middle-Aged Adults in Europe.”

One week until the SMIDGE Project’s international conference, “The Invisible Middle: Understanding Online Extremism in Middle-Aged Adults in Europe.” 📍 Brussels 🗓 29 January 2026 📢 A limited number of places remain available. Register here: lnkd.in/eg-WdnB8

📢 After three impactful years, the SMIDGE Project hosts its international conference: “The Invisible Middle: Understanding Online Extremism in Middle-Aged Adults in Europe” 📍 Brussels | 📅 29 January 2026 🔗 To register: lnkd.in/eg-WdnB8 To learn more about the conference: lnkd.in/ekZC3-vn

🗞️ 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...

Britain’s most dangerous radicals are… middle-aged men

Middle-aged men are being radicalised – and they’re fuelling the spread of extremism, conspiracy theories and political violence

thenewworld.co.uk

📣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.

Brain Box - The Climate Quiz Show

YouTube video by Smidge Project

youtube.com

📢 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-...

SMIDGE Project Brings Together Media Professionals to Tackle Disinformation Among Middle-Aged Audiences

Inclusive Europe and De Montfort University (DMU) co-organised a dedicated roundtable for journalists, held in Brussels as part of the SMIDGE Project. The event brought together media professionals, c...

smidgeproject.eu

📢 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...

Meet gen X: middle-aged, enraged and radicalised by internet bile | Gaby Hinsliff

Who is driving the populist insurgency? It’s not grumpy pensioners or vulnerable teenagers – it’s my generation, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff

theguardian.com

🎞️ 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

A Family Tea | Official Release

YouTube video by Smidge Project

youtube.com

📚 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...

A Family Tea | Official Release

YouTube video by Smidge Project

youtube.com

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).

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 10mo ago

Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow

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...

New Territories, Old Enemies

In 2013, during President Barack Obama’s visit to Berlin, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared “Das Internet ist für uns alle Neuland” (“The internet is new territory for all of us”). Overn...

smidgeproject.eu

🎧 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

NordMedia Conference 2025 - NordMedia Network

NordMedia25: Imagining Livable Futures  13–15 August 2025, with doctoral pre-conference on 12 August Venue: University of Southern Denmark (SDU)  For...

nordmedianetwork.org