SMIDGE Project Publishes Its Fifth Newsletter

The fifth newsletter of the SMIDGE Project has been released, presenting the latest developments, research highlights, and upcoming activities as the project moves into its final phase.

Over the past months, the consortium has reached several key milestones, including the creation and dissemination of new counter-narrative resources designed to promote critical thinking and online engagement among the target audience. These resources include a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a suite of micro-content materials (such as memes, graphics, GIFs, and short videos), and the release of the project’s first short film, “A Family Tea”. Produced in collaboration with De Montfort University and Hamlett Films, the film explores how everyday frustrations and conversations can shape beliefs and perceptions, highlighting the nuances of identity, belonging, and trust.

The newsletter also reports on a series of recent events and research activities. In May, the SMIDGE team gathered in Prishtina for a two-day consortium meeting hosted by the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), reviewing progress and planning for the project’s conclusion. Throughout the summer and autumn, partners contributed to major academic and policy discussions — including the Council of Europe’s No Hate Speech Week 2025, the 19th European Congress of Psychology, and NordMedia 2025 — sharing findings and fostering collaboration on countering extremist narratives.

In addition, the newsletter features new outputs from SmidgeCast, the project’s podcast series, which over the past six months has explored topics such as artificial intelligence ethics, emotional communication, and the role of film and media literacy in building resilience.

Among the recent publications highlighted is the open-access article “Spaces of Hybridized Prefatory Extremism (HYPE) on Social Media”, authored by Line Nybro Petersen and Mikkel Bækby Johansen, published in Social Media + Society. The piece introduces an important theoretical framework for understanding how extremist dynamics evolve across online spaces. The project was also featured in The Guardian, in an investigation into how far-right ideas spread within everyday Facebook networks — citing SMIDGE research on the blending of factual and conspiratorial content in digital ecosystems.

Looking ahead, the newsletter announces two key events:

• The SMIDGE Roundtable, organised by Inclusive Europe in collaboration with De Montfort University, will take place on 20 November 2025 in Brussels. The discussion will bring together media professionals and researchers to examine how extremist and conspiratorial narratives affect adults aged 45–65.

• On 11 November 2025, KCSS will host a roundtable with security practitioners in Kosovo, exploring the impact of extremist and disinformation narratives on regional security and social cohesion.

  
  

As the SMIDGE Project approaches its conclusion, the consortium remains committed to advancing research, strengthening public engagement, and supporting policy development to promote digital literacy, resilience, and democratic dialogue across Europe.