Since the live-streamed racist and antisemitic attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Halle, Germany, in 2019 and details of the perpetrators’ profiles on gaming platforms became known, a discussion about the use of gaming platforms and content by extremist actors has intensified. Despite this, research into radicalized activities in gaming spheres is still extremely limited. This is particularly true for antisemitism.

But antisemitism is communicated in various forms in gaming contexts. This happens both unconsciously and implicitly as well as very openly and boldly. Antisemitic actors develop their own antisemitic games, use existing games in different ways, communicate on gaming platforms, use game references and even gamify real-world antisemitic acts.

The presentation will provide an overview of the antisemitic phenomena and actors within gaming culture. It will also discuss the antisemitic findings of the RadiGaMe (radicalisation on gaming platforms and messenger services) research project which seeks to contribute to closing the research gap in the area of radicalization on gaming platforms. After all, our research on gaming platforms has revealed a central role of antisemitism for radicalized actors of various political movements. Especially on modding platforms that have been little researched to date, where users upload and share their own modifications for games.

Antisemitism has existed for centuries and manifests itself in many forms, from ancient prejudices to modern online hate speech. In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents worldwide, particularly after the events of 7 October. Social media platforms such as TikTok have become critical arenas for both the spread and mitigation of hate speech. This study highlights TikTok’s potential to combat antisemitism through educational campaigns promoting tolerance and inclusivity. With its global reach and over one billion users, TikTok is uniquely positioned to engage younger audiences through its multimedia, algorithm-driven format. Its influence on trends and viral challenges enhances its ability to spread positive messages, counter antisemitic narratives and promote inclusivity in a powerful way.

This study examines how tailored TikTok campaigns can address region-specific narratives, focusing on case studies from Italy, Hungary and the Visegrád countries. It offers practical guidance on designing effective social media campaigns, emphasising strategies such as counter-speech, myth-busting and reframing antisemitic narratives, as well as personal stories, influencer partnerships and humour to promote dialogue. Special attention is given to combating Holocaust distortion and anti-Zionism, with technical recommendations on how to maximise TikTok’s features.

With the resurgence of antisemitism and its normalisation since the Oct 7 pogrom, many online spaces have become increasingly hostile to Jews or anyone expressing sympathy with them. As a result, whether through administrative removal or self-selection, Jews have been pushed out of these spaces. On the anonymous social platform Reddit, some of these alienated Jews have found online safe harbor in subreddits (communities) such as r/Jewish (69k members) and r/Judaism (113k members). In these spaces, members can kvetch, debate halakha, share recipes, and other normal Jewish discourse without risking attack for simply being Jewish. These spaces are maintained by a team of volunteer moderators who tirelessly steward the integrity of the space – including engaging with the Anti-Defamation League toward addressing antisemitism on Reddit. Drawing from a year of digital ethnography, I will contextualize this digital re-ghettoisation of Jews and what can be learned from it.

This paper examines the evolving landscape of online antisemitism from 2009-2024 with a focus on the representation of antisemitic content, detection methodologies, and prevalence trends across digital spaces. While these patterns mirror historical antisemitism, their rapid digital dissemination presents unique challenges requiring novel solutions.

Next, research on the emerging role of Jewish social media influencers as digital advocates will be presented. Through systematic analysis of their content and engagement metrics on social media, stratagies and approaches to countering online antisemitism will be described.

We propose a framework for understanding how technological solutions and positive social engagement can work in tandem to combat online hate speech. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on digital hate speech while offering practical insights for community resistance strategies.

The findings emphasize the need for integrated approaches combining automated detection tools with human-centered responses. Limitations and implications for research and education will be described.