FACT Aotearoa News Briefs 25 May 2026

Online echo chambers can arise even without algorithmic nudges or seeking like-minded people - University of Amsterdam
A new study of online communities suggests that their interaction dynamics can amplify small, local imbalances in opinions, rapidly turning initially mixed-opinion communities into highly-polarized ones—even without the algorithms and homogeneity-seeking behaviors typically blamed for sculpting echo chambers. Petter Törnberg of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, presents these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/05/rip-social-media-what-comes-next-is-messy/

Artificial intelligence may accelerate the path to radicalization - Personality and Social Psychology Review
How are ordinary people drawn into extremist circles—and what role can artificial intelligence play in that process? This question is addressed by a new study which, for the first time, combines psychological theories of radicalization with knowledge of modern AI technologies such as recommendation algorithms, generative AI and botnets.
https://phys.org/news/2026-05-artificial-intelligence-path-radicalization.html

Online hate groups sustain their messages by repeating powerful stories or routinely adding new allegations - The Conversation
A computational social scientist analysed 10 years of Facebook posts in antisemitic and Islamophobic groups to understand why hate communities persist online. Groups dominated by a few prolific posters saw more short-term engagement, while long-term survival depended on constantly adding fresh accusations and conspiracy theories.
https://theconversation.com/online-hate-groups-sustain-their-messages-by-repeating-powerful-stories-or-routinely-adding-new-allegations-276744

Conspiracy theorists are building AI interfaces to the Epstein files – and presenting their views as data analysis - The Conversation
AI-powered platforms claiming to help researchers navigate the 3 million Department of Justice documents related to Jeffrey Epstein are being built by conspiracy theorists to encourage "platform conspiracism." Tools like WEBB, co-created by antisemitic influencer Ian Carroll, present slick interfaces that masquerade as neutral data analysis while steering users toward conspiratorial interpretations and expanding into datasets about 9/11, JFK and UFOs.
https://theconversation.com/conspiracy-theorists-are-building-ai-interfaces-to-the-epstein-files-and-presenting-their-views-as-data-analysis-277949

Do 300,000 Kiwis really believe Canada is building an army of mutant super-raccoons? - Royal Society Open Science
A mythical army of genetically engineered raccoons has helped Australian researchers show that belief in conspiracy theories may be less common than previously thought. Findings from a Macquarie University study, replicated in Aotearoa NZ, suggest many opinion poll surveys make belief in conspiracies look more common than it really is because some anonymous respondents don't answer truthfully, instead trolling, joking or not taking questions seriously.
https://theconversation.com/conspiracy-theories-do-300-000-kiwis-really-believe-canada-is-building-an-army-of-mutant-super-raccoons-282478

Amplifying Antisemitism: How Recommender Algorithms Serve Harmful Content to Children - Institute for Strategic Dialogue
ISD researchers tested how TikTok and Rumble's recommender algorithms expose UK minors to antisemitic content. A 15-year-old boy interested in male lifestyle influencers only needed to be on TikTok for an hour before being served antisemitic conspiracy theories. Both platforms surfaced significant harmful material, with Rumble hosting more overt antisemitism including slurs, Holocaust distortion and conspiracy theories.
https://www.isdglobal.org/publication/amplifying-antisemitism-how-recommender-algorithms-serve-harmful-content-to-children/

Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories Are Already Spreading Online - Wired
From claims of an Israeli false flag to efforts to sell ivermectin, influencers and grifters are using lessons learned from Covid-19 to push their baseless conspiracy theories.
https://www.wired.com/story/hantavirus-conspiracy-theories-are-already-spreading-online/

COVID racism driven by more than fear of infection - Journal of Social Psychology
Anti-Asian discrimination and violence increased during COVID, and new research from Murdoch University has revealed one key psychological driver. Rather than being driven by a fear of infection, aggressive forms of discrimination appeared to be more strongly associated with anger. "The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by a marked rise in anti-Asian sentiment, with individuals of Asian descent facing widespread discrimination, prejudice and attacks in several contexts, with many of the most salient reported cases emerging from Western societies"
https://phys.org/news/2026-05-covid-racism-driven-infection.html

Political polarisation and conspiracy movements helped fuel the spread of extremist narratives since Covid-19 - Radio NZ
Chris Kumeroa, former SAS soldier specialising in counter terrorism, human tracking, mountaineering and reconnaissance, says extremist movements overseas were increasingly influencing local groups through online platforms, disinformation networks and ideological recruitment.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-justice/596107/former-sas-soldier-says-international-far-right-groups-growing-in-new-zealand