Every-day extremism – the impact of small negative comments: academic opinion

Posted on 10 August 2024 • TV and radio

An Open University academic who researches extremism ideologies plays a key role in a short film on the BBC’s Morning Live programme that features every-day extremism. It’s part of a series of six films made in partnership with The Open University and the BBC.

Professor Kesi Mahendran (pictured) is a Professor of Social and Political Psychology at the OU and says every-day extremism is the concept that by sharing small bits of sometimes negative content online we’re all contributing to hateful speech on the net.

In the film, which you can watch here, she offers her academic expertise to media personality Zara McDermott, who has experienced her fair share of online abuse.

It states Zara is not alone as nearly one in four adults in the UK have experienced trolling. Kesi said in the film:

“It’s not about meeting in the middle. You can be passionate and engaged, but the key thing is you’ve crossed the line when you communicate hostility towards another person.

“I think when you are online, it can be worth pausing, reflecting on the role that you’re playing in the public domain.

“Every-day extremism is something that impacts us all and it’s also something that we all need to take responsibility for so next time you post a comment or share a viral joke, or weigh in with your opinion on a topic, remember the person who’s being targeted. They probably aren’t that different to you.”

The six films were commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and are supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with particular relevance to Psychology and Counselling

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast and Partnerships
• Academic Consultants:
  Dr Trudi Macagnino – Eco Wins
  Professor Gemma Briggs – Distracted Driving
  Dr Jim Turner – Changing Your Mind
  Dr Sinead Eccles – Brain Health Hacks
  Professor Kesi Mahendran – Everyday Extremism
  Professor Lara Frumkin – Courtroom Accents
  
• Media Fellow: Professor Zoe Walkington
• Broadcast Project Manager: Clair Robinson
• Supporting Online Content: Patrick Kearney, Xinmiao Zhang, Matthew Ray and Steff Easom

Supporting Online content:

Visit our Broadcast website OU Connect where you can watch all six films and find content exploring the films’ topics further.