Australian federal police have raised concerns about a surge in teen extremism, with 32 of the 37 young people prosecuted in counter-terrorism cases since 2020 being charged in the last two years. Most individuals charged with the federal crime of possession of violent extremist material are under 18.
Experts involved in harm prevention programs, including Professor Debra Smith of Victoria University, have observed a dramatic decrease in the age of those caught up in these activities over the past decade. Cases have involved teenagers found with "hard drives full of what can only be described as gore."
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) review of 55 youth terrorism cases indicates a mixed profile, often involving young men, some with mental health support or intervention. While some come from stable homes, others do not. A common factor is their engagement with online spaces.
Recently, two teenagers in Darwin were charged with collecting documents that could facilitate acts of terrorism. This follows charges five months prior against another Northern Territory teenager for posts with "pro-Nazi, anti-immigration, anti-trans and white nationalist themes," and alleged possession of videos of white nationalist terrorist attacks. All these matters are currently before the courts.
Levi West, a research fellow at the Australian National University, suggests that due to their age, many involved may be considered victims as much as perpetrators. He highlights the challenges this presents for authorities and stresses the importance of understanding underlying factors beyond algorithms, such as the legacies of Covid-19 and increased screen time.