The Problem
Current approaches wait until after extremist content spreads, then try to remove it. This reactive approach puts enormous strain on platforms and law enforcement while failing to protect people from initial exposure to manipulation.
Background
PERIL helps protect people from manipulation and online threats through evidence-based research. We develop scientifically-tested methods to help people think critically and make their own informed decisions. Instead of just responding after antisemitism spreads, we give people tools to recognize manipulation before they encounter it.
The Solution
PERIL uses psychological science to help people protect themselves from antisemitic manipulation. We track how extremist content spreads through social networks, then develop tools that help people recognize and resist these tactics. This builds lasting protection in both individuals and communities, promoting psychological agency and freedom of thought.
Our Research-Based Prevention Strategy
Our Research Framework
We follow three stages: identify emerging online threats, develop protection tools, and distribute them to build psychological resistance.
Threat Detection
We track evolving antisemitic narratives in online spaces. These harmful and manipulative narratives often repackage historical antisemitic tropes in response to current events. Systematic monitoring helps us stay ahead of emerging harmful narratives that can lead to violence.
Protection Development
We create short video interventions that teach people to recognize manipulation tactics before encountering them online. Our research tests different approaches to find what works best for building resistance. Studies show these interventions help people develop protective responses when they encounter manipulation. More broadly, research has shown that people maintain their improved ability to spot and resist deceptive content over time.
Distribution
We identify the best channels to reach people where different manipulation tactics are most common. Working with content creators and community organizations, we distribute content through channels people already use and trust. Broader research suggests that these protective skills naturally spread through social networks and communities. When people learn to spot manipulation, they often share these insights with friends and family, multiplying impact. Each person reached can help protect others in their online and offline communities.
Ongoing Research
We’re developing models to determine optimal timing for follow-up content that maintains psychological protection over time. We’re also measuring how protection spreads – when one person develops resistance, they often help protect their community. This natural spread can dramatically increase cost-effectiveness.
Building Community Protection
PERIL develops resources and training for parents, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, and other trusted adults. We help them identify warning signs and address extremism among their communities. Building layers of support creates community-wide protection against all harmful forms of manipulation.
Example: Antisemitism Protection
After antisemitic content surged following October 7th, 2023, PERIL tested new approaches to protect people from harmful pro-Hamas manipulation online. Our study showed that brief video interventions helped young adults resist antisemitic propaganda before exposure.
Key results from our most effective intervention:
- 7.3% reduction in agreement with antisemitic content
- 11.3% improvement in recognizing manipulation tactics
- 12-19% increase in protective emotional responses
- 23.9% boost in willingness to challenge harmful content
These tools work by helping people develop protective psychological responses when encountering manipulation. This creates lasting resistance through:
- Recognition: Better ability to identify manipulation attempts
- Response: Activated protective reactions
- Action: Increased capability to challenge harmful content
Return on Investment
Our approach offers clear advantages over reactive interventions:
Scalable Impact
- One-time development costs for tools that can reach millions
- Distribution through platforms people already use
- Protection that works without ongoing intervention
Natural Spread
People share these protective skills with others, creating organic spread through social networks:
- Each person creates additional protection in their community
- Communities develop sustained resistance over time
- Impact continues growing after initial investment
Cost-Effective Prevention
- Reduces need for costly reactive measures
- Creates lasting psychological protection mechanisms
- Minimizes resource demands on institutions and platforms
- Reduces need for expensive reactive measures
- Creates lasting protective mechanisms
- Minimizes resource demands on institutions
This proactive approach prevents harmful online manipulation from leading to violence that requires resource-intensive responses, while naturally expanding protection through social networks.