Social media driving right-wing Europe

The rise of the far right across Europe is linked to the impact of social media, as a new generation of young supporters embrace hardline nationalist extremism and anti-immigrant groups
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GERMANY
Four years ago German BfV security agency estimated there were 25,000 right-wing extremists, of which 5,600 were neo-Nazis

Pegida: Anti-Islamic movement founded in Dresden, October 2014. Since February, number of supporters on its official Facebook profile has grown by 13%

Facebook likes* Nov 2015 179,580

National Democratic Party of Germany: Neo-Nazi party has one Member of European Parliament

140,560

UNITED KINGDOM
Britain First: Far-right, anti-Islamist, nationalist party. Facebook support has grown 37% since April

1,000,380

English Defence League: Far-right, anti-Islamist. Support has grown 22% since April

232,000

HUNGARY
Jobbik: Extremist party is third largest in National Assembly

301,460

FRANCE
Front National: Far-right. Has 24 MEPs. Facebook support has surged 66% since April. Leader Marine Le Pen is high in polls for presidential election

281,320

AUSTRIA
Freedom Party: Right-wing, anti-immigration. Support up 50% since April

260,360

SWEDEN
Sweden Democrats: Anti-immigration. 49 seats in 349-seat parliament, 2 MEPs. Facebook support up 17% since April

103,090

NORWAY
Progress Party: Right- wing party has 29 seats in 169-seat parliment. Facebook support up 22%

83,170

DENMARK
Danish People’s Party: Far-right. Has 37 seats in 179-seat parliament and 4 MEPs. Social media support up 76% since April

58,290

*Every time someone “likes” a Facebook page or comment, it is exposed to an average 136 other people, who then can “like” it to others
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Sources: Facebook, Spiegel, vocativ.com

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