Sir Afilonius Rex, Martyn Jones and Lila de Alba

Kensington, Sunday 8th March 2026

The internet was supposed to be a glorious democratising force, connecting people, spreading ideas, and letting truth shine through. Instead, it has become a glittering weapon in the hands of the extreme right, twisting platforms into tools that erode rational thought, fair elections, and basic decency. This is no accident. It is a deliberate, sophisticated playbook designed to undermine democracy while hiding behind memes, outrage, and “free speech” rhetoric.

Here are ten key ways the far right manipulates social media to push anti-democratic behaviour, each one more insidious than the last.