00:04Hi, I have a question. How many of you watching this have teenage sons in their rooms online
00:10right now? Whether they are on their phones, laptop or computer, it is unrealistic to believe
00:16that we know exactly what they are doing or who they are talking to. As parents, we can
00:21add safety restrictions to devices and limit screen time, but is that enough? To stop them
00:26from becoming involved in something that can harm them, like extreme right-wing extremism.
00:31Sadly, I learnt the hard way. I thought my son was safe, at home, but without my knowledge,
00:37he become involved in extreme right-wing extremism. So how did he get involved? He was introduced to
00:43extremism by someone he thought was his friend, whilst at school. Encouraging my son to get
00:49involved, this so-called friend showed him a meme on his phone, and that was all it took for him
00:53to
00:54step into a world of hate. The meme he showed my son, stated, that British soldiers shouldn't
00:59be homeless and on the streets, whilst immigrants were being given homes. Asking my son, if agreed,
01:05he then invited him to join an online forum, and that is how easy it is for someone to get
01:09involved
01:10in extremism. My son, naive and angry, joined, and within weeks, he changed, and became fascinated
01:17with extremism. Using safety restrictions online, wouldn't have prevented it. Restricting screen
01:23time, wouldn't have prevented it. He became involved, because extremists used a powerful message,
01:29based on care, not hate. Initially, he wasn't public about his beliefs, and never discussed his
01:35views, with myself or any other family members, because he was encouraged, to keep his involvement,
01:40secret. Looking back, I know I couldn't have prevented it, because I was completely unaware,
01:45of what was happening. I just didn't see it. Eventually, everything came out, when I overheard
01:51a conversation he was having with some others in his room, and those conversations were not like
01:55anything I had heard before. Normally, I would observe him playing gaming or watching videos
02:01online, but now, he was different. I'd had difficult conversations about online safety, and predators,
02:07that wanted to exploit, so I honestly believed that he was okay, and we would be safe. But I was
02:13wrong,
02:13as my normally honest son, had become deceptive, and secretive. He had learned to lie, and deceive,
02:20with ease. Back then, he would talk on the phone, but outside of the home, and would spend hours online,
02:25whilst everyone else, was asleep. Visiting various forums, no matter what we did, I believe he would
02:32have got round things. As a dad, I am pretty easy going, and I have always believed, that children 13
02:38plus
02:38deserve a certain amount of privacy, so, if I'm honest, I didn't check his phone, I trusted him and
02:44prior to that time, we had a good, open, dialogue and could talk about most things, openly. Today,
02:50I know that radicalization and extremism can happen to anyone. If you want to prevent it, from happening
02:56to you, then please, familiarize yourself with the signs of radicalization and extremism. As knowing
03:02these signs, may help you protect your son. If you are concerned about a loved one, and want some
03:07advice, please reach out to act early, they can offer free, confidential advice, and support,
03:13just search for them online. Or, if you would like to talk to people with lived experience,
03:18of the impact of extremism, then please come and talk to us over at Exit Hate. We understand, and never
03:24judge.
