# What’s behind Australia’s surge in teen extremism?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/whats-behind-australias-surge-in-teen-extremism/
- Published: 2026-11-12T14:00:45+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T14:21:24+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/13/australia-surge-in-teen-extremism-ntwnfb
- Topics: World

## Key points

- 32 of 37 young people prosecuted since 2020 were charged in the past two years.
- Experts point to online spaces that expose teenagers to violent material.
- Young people may be both perpetrators and victims, researchers say.

## Summary

Australian federal police say young people are increasingly appearing in counter-terrorism cases, with most of the 37 people under 18 prosecuted since 2020 charged in the past two years. Experts link the trend to online spaces where violent extremist material, gore and nihilistic subcultures can offer teenagers a sense of identity and validation, complicating how authorities should respond.

A review of 55 youth terrorism cases found varied backgrounds, though many involved young men and some had received mental health support. Recent cases in the Northern Territory involve teenagers accused of collecting terrorism-related documents or posting extremist content; the allegations remain before the courts. One teenager who pleaded guilty said he first encountered violent material on TikTok at 14, while others have described joining gore channels on Telegram.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.