New research from Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford shows the Telegram instant messaging service, used by 400 million people worldwide, has become a refuge for far-right commentators who have been removed from mainstream social media platforms.
Telegram places fewer restrictions on the content of its users and allows broadcasting through Telegram channels without moderation. Though widely used by mainstream news outlets, the far-right has found a loyal audience on these platforms and have become one of the loudest voices on the platform.
Content from outlets such as Tommy Robinson News (TR.News) & Summit News achieved more views on the platform than articles from Mail Online and The Guardian. Articles from TR.News, for example, received more than twice the number of views than articles from the Mail.
The study also finds “junk news” doesn’t circulate far outside its key audience of under 100,000 subscribers on Telegram, but this audience is more engaged and loyal than the audience for mainstream news.
This new study comes as many prominent right-wing personalities in the UK have embraced new self-styled free-speech social networks.
Dr Aleksi Knuutila, Researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, said:
“This is the first study of its kind and shines a light on how apps like Telegram have become a hotbed for the sharing and discussion of far-right views.
“With traditional platforms like Twitter moving to ban and exclude those who spread junk news, this worrying development shows hatred is finding a home in less regulated online spaces.”
For more information please contact press@oii.ox.ac.uk.
Former Research Associate
Aleksi Knuutila is an anthropologist and data scientist. He was working as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Computational Propaganda programme, where he used computational and qualitative methods to study political communications and communities.
Former Postdoctoral Researcher
Aliaksandr is a political communication researcher and was Director of Research at the Programme on Democracy and Technology at the Oxford Internet Institute.
Research Associate
In 2022 Jonathan Bright became the Head of AI for Public Services at the Turing Institute, having previously been a faculty member of the OII. A political scientist, he specialises in computational and ‘big data’ approaches to the social sciences.
Former Research Associate
Along with Philip Howard, Dr Rasmus Kleis Nielsen is co-director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Misinformation, Science and Media.
Professor of Internet Studies
Philip N. Howard is a professor of sociology, information, and international affairs. He is Director of the Programme on Democracy and Technology, and is a Professorial Fellow of Balliol College.
This project will focus on how bots, algorithms and other forms of automation are used by political actors in countries around the world.