Protecting Teens Against Extremist Ideologies with Dr. Emily Bashah
In today’s hyper-connected world, children are more exposed than ever to extremist ideologies that can profoundly influence young minds. There has been an enormous uptick in groups ranging from white supremacists to religious extremists who are aggressively targeting children as young as 11 on platforms popular with teens. For example, a neo-Nazi organization recently ran a social media recruitment campaign using gaming imagery and memes that received 800,000 views from boys aged 12-15. In this episode, Dr. Emily Bashaw, a clinical psychologist and expert on radicalization, discusses the alarming trend of extremist groups targeting teenagers on social media platforms. She explains the concept of addictive ideologies and how vulnerable individuals can be influenced by propaganda and tribal beliefs. Dr. Bashaw emphasizes the importance of building resilience and critical thinking skills in teenagers to protect them from extremist influences. She also highlights the role of parents in fostering open communication and engaging in difficult conversations with their teens. The conversation concludes with a reminder to humanize others and promote acceptance while demanding personal growth.