X and Instagram Account for 98% of Antisemitic Content Views, Study Shows
A new study by the Combat Antisemitism Movement reveals that X and Instagram account for 98% of antisemitic content views online, while TikTok and Facebook have significantly curbed similar material.
X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, and Meta's Instagram have emerged as the primary distributors of antisemitic content among the four major social media platforms, accounting for 98% of total views, according to a comprehensive study by the Antisemitism Research Center (ARC) of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM).
Study Methodology and Scope
The research, conducted between August and October, monitored 2,806 antisemitic posts across 683 accounts that each recorded at least 40,000 views. The findings reveal that X accounted for the largest volume of antisemitic posts, generating 72% of the monitored content (2,032 posts) and accumulating 641 million views. Instagram followed with 26% of the posts (740) and 517.4 million views, representing a total of 1.18 billion views across the two platforms.
Instagram's algorithm proved particularly potent for short-form video content. While hosting fewer posts than X, Instagram drove 44% of total views and recorded an average of 699,000 views per post—twice the average on X. Furthermore, 52% of posts exceeding one million views originated on Instagram.
Main Narratives and Amplification
Conspiracy theories dominated the analyzed content, accounting for 52% of total views (514 million), which included allegations of Jewish control over media, governments, and financial institutions. Dehumanization of Jews accounted for 15% of the posts, while the demonization of Israel and Zionism made up 12%. Holocaust denial and distortion represented 9% of the content.
"The direct link between online hatred and violent attacks against Jews in reality has become something that cannot be ignored," said CAM CEO Sacha Roytman. "Our research proves that social networks expose their users to antisemitic hatred on a daily basis. When artificial intelligence generates content and large language models drive bots, it is easier than ever to penetrate Western societies and sow hatred."
Shifts at TikTok and Facebook
In contrast, the study highlighted significant improvements in content moderation by TikTok and Facebook. TikTok, which previously allowed nearly unmonitored spread of anti-Jewish material, successfully implemented restrictive systems, resulting in only 13 posts exceeding 40,000 views. Facebook similarly detected just 21 antisemitic posts surpassing the threshold.
Roytman emphasized the urgent need for regulatory action: "Just as we protect physical borders and deploy law enforcement to keep the streets safe in Jewish communities worldwide, we must act with the same determination and vigilance in digital enforcement."
