The Role of Conspiracy Theories in Radicalising Young People

Conspiracy theories have always existed, but social media has changed how quickly they spread and who they reach. Today, a young person is far more likely to encounter a conspiracy theory through a TikTok video, YouTube recommendation, meme or gaming influencer than through a fringe website.

While the vast majority of children who encounter such content will never become radicalised, conspiracy theories can create conditions that increase vulnerability to extremist narratives in some young people.

The appeal of conspiracy theories

Adolescence is a period of identity formation, belonging and increasing independence. Young people are naturally seeking answers about themselves and the world around them. Conspiracy theories can be appealing because they offer simple explanations for complex events, provide someone to blame and create the impression that believers possess hidden knowledge unavailable to others. For a young person experiencing isolation, anxiety, uncertainty or social exclusion, an online community of self-proclaimed ‘truth seekers’ can offer a powerful sense of belonging.

Recent research suggests that these vulnerabilities matter. A 2026 longitudinal study found that experiences such as bullying, emotional distress and a reduced sense of safety during adolescence may contribute to the development of conspiracy thinking and, for a small minority, violent extremist attitudes. Importantly, the researchers stressed that this is not an inevitable pathway, but one influenced by a combination of personal, social and environmental factors.

Conspiracy theories become particularly concerning when they encourage young people to see the world as divided between innocent victims and dangerous enemies. Trust in schools, government, healthcare professionals and the media can be gradually replaced by dependence on a small number of influencers or closed online communities. Those who disagree are dismissed as part of the conspiracy itself.

In some cases, these narratives move beyond distrust to actively promoting hatred towards particular groups. Migrants, Muslims, Jewish communities, LGBTQ+ people or political opponents may be portrayed as deliberately trying to undermine society. Once people are dehumanised or presented as an existential threat, violence can begin to appear justified as an act of self-defence.

Avoiding oversimplification

However, it is important to avoid oversimplification. Conspiracy beliefs alone do not cause terrorism or extremist violence. In 2025, a scoping review examined the relationship between conspiracy beliefs and violence and concluded that while there is a consistent association, conspiracy beliefs alone are not enough to explain extremist behaviour. Factors such as grievance, psychological distress, paranoia and social isolation are often equally important.

Similarly, one of the largest recent studies involving more than 2,000 young people aged 16–25, found that most participants who believed conspiracy theories did not support violence. Only a much smaller group combined conspiracy beliefs with extremist attitudes and a willingness to justify violent action. The researchers concluded that practitioners should avoid treating every conspiracy belief as evidence of radicalisation and instead consider the wider context of the young person's behaviour and wellbeing.

The online environment

The online environment can accelerate these processes. Recommendation algorithms are designed to maximise engagement and can expose users to increasingly emotive, sensational or provocative content. A teenager who watches one conspiracy-related video may quickly encounter similar material, creating an impression that these beliefs are widespread or credible. Memes, short-form videos and online humour can make harmful ideas appear harmless long before their underlying messages become obvious. Research also highlights how central digital platforms have become in children's daily lives, reinforcing the importance of digital literacy as a safeguarding priority

Schools are increasingly encountering these issues. In 2026, the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools reported that significantly more parents said their children had discussed conspiracy theories at home than just two years earlier, demonstrating how these narratives are becoming part of everyday conversations among young people.

For educators, the response should not be to ridicule or dismiss pupils who express conspiratorial beliefs. Doing so may simply reinforce the idea that adults are unwilling to hear ‘the truth’. Instead, safeguarding professionals should respond with curiosity. Asking questions such as ‘Where did you hear that?’ ‘What makes that source trustworthy?’ or ‘How would you check whether it's true?’ encourages critical thinking without creating confrontation.

Clear safeguarding boundaries

At the same time, schools must maintain clear safeguarding boundaries. Curiosity, debate, questioning of authority and political disagreement are not safeguarding concerns in themselves and should form part of healthy democratic discussion. However, concerns are more likely to arise where conspiracy beliefs are accompanied by increasing isolation, fixation on a particular ideology, hostility towards specific groups, rejection of trusted adults, attempts to recruit others, endorsement of violence, or engagement with extremist online communities. It is the combination of beliefs, behaviours and vulnerability factors that should inform professional judgement.

Schools should also remember that radicalisation remains a safeguarding issue under the Prevent Duty. Concerns about possible extremist influence should be managed through established safeguarding procedures and discussed with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), who can consider whether additional support, assessment or referral is required.

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 reflects this changing landscape by recognising misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories as forms of potentially harmful online content that children may encounter. It also reinforces that protecting children from radicalisation remains a core safeguarding responsibility for all schools and colleges.

A safeguarding response

Ultimately, conspiracy theories do not radicalise young people on their own. However, they can provide narratives that connect feelings of anger, fear, isolation or exclusion with hostility towards others. The most effective protection is therefore not simply correcting misinformation, but helping young people develop critical thinking skills, positive relationships, digital resilience and a strong sense of belonging. When children have trusted adults who listen, challenge respectfully and encourage evidence-based thinking, they are far less likely to be drawn into online communities that seek to exploit their uncertainty and vulnerabilities.

SSS Learning

27 October 2026