From Southport to Epping, social media's is fuelling racist violence

The Southport riots laid bare the dangers of social media’s hands-off approach to harmful content. Yet, one year on, we find ourselves asking the same questions in Epping. Why are platforms still failing to act when lies posted online are fuelling racist violence and intimidation on our streets?

Demos researcher Naema Malik explores how new data exposes the failings of Community Notes on X , and discusses the routes to more effective platform moderation.

We are yet to learn our lessons from the horrors of Southport

The Southport stabbings last summer were devastating. Three young girls were killed and eight others seriously injured. But while some were united in their grief, within hours, false rumours about the identity of the attacker began circulating online triggering a target