Social Media & The Rise of Online Extremism

On January 20, Dr. Ashlyn Hand, Post-Doc Fellow for the America in the World Consortium, will be joined by Alexandra Evans, Associate Policy Researcher at RAND Corporation for a conversation on virtual platforms and extreme content online. In addition to her research at RAND Corporation, Dr. Evans is a professor of Policy Analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Her research focuses on strategic competition, political-military dynamics, and decision-making. Dr. Evans' recent publication The Online Extremist Ecosystem examines the connection between the proliferation of social media networks and the increase in extremist online activity. The publication provides a framework for internet users to categorize the virtual platforms they use and the likelihood they may encounter extreme content online.