Radicalisation does not necessarily lead to violent extremism. Extremists who commit violent crimes are usually characterized by tough personal backgrounds. For example, either themselves directly or the group towards which they feel they belong to might have been victims of discrimination, whether real or perceived.
This kind of narrative may be reinterpreted on the basis of new ideologies, often appearing like an absolute conspiracy theory. Extremist groups or individuals instrumentalise these upsetting feelings through social media, online and offline. They seek to make contact with vulnerable people, especially youth in the search for meaning, identity and a sense of belonging. These young people often develop hostile feelings towards mass media and stop trusting them.
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