SMIDGE Concludes with High-Level Policy Event at Westminster

The SMIDGE Project marked its final policy and stakeholder event with a high-level session held at Portcullis House in Westminster on February 24, 2026, bringing together Members of the UK Parliament, policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, and media professionals to examine the growing impact of online extremism and disinformation on middle-aged adults.

Hosted by Member of Parliament and De Montfort University graduate Vicky Foxcroft, and organised with the support of De Montfort University, the session provided a timely platform the project's research and policy implications. Dr Sara Wilford of De Montfort University presented the project’s key research findings, drawing on three years of surveys, interviews, focus groups, and qualitative analysis conducted across several European countries.

The session also featured an interactive workshop discussion, where participants explored practical policy implications and potential responses. Policymakers, researchers, practitioners and civil society representatives engaged in dialogue on how existing online safety measures could be strengthened to better address the needs and vulnerabilities of this demographic.

Discussions emphasised the importance of integrating middle-aged adults more explicitly into media literacy programmes, prevention strategies, and digital governance frameworks, as well as the need for continued collaboration between research, policy, and practitioner communities.

The event also showcased the SMIDGE project’s key outputs designed to support stakeholders in addressing online extremism and disinformation, including its policy guidelines, media literacy resources, counter-narrative materials, and online training platform.