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Okay, so, today we're diving head first into something really interesting happening on college campuses. We're talking about those passionate, social justice warrior type college students. But there's this weird disconnect when you look at their reactions to certain global conflicts. It's like their activism is going one way and their social justice compass is pointing in a totally different direction. You're spot on, you see these students and they are so engaged in all these social justice issues. But then something like the atrocities committed by Hamas, especially during that attack on Israel last year. It's like the brutality, the targeting of civilians, it's barely even registered on a lot of these campuses. It's such a fascinating paradox and it's exactly what this research paper we're diving into today digs into. It's called Malignant Self-Criticism and Pathways to Anti-Semitism Among American College Students. When International Relations and Developmental Clinical Psychology Meet. It's by Dr. Kabi Barda, Dr. Golan Sarkar and Dr. Jennifer Brick-Murtazashvili. And they really take us on this journey to understand how international relations and psychology kind of collide to shape how students view this really complex conflict. And here's the thing, it might be starting even before they step foot on campus. Wow, really. Thanks to those phones in their pocket. That's so true, that whole digital world, especially the algorithms on social media, they play such a massive role in how these young people see the world. It's crazy to think about, right? Like TikTok, it's gone way beyond silly dances and cute animals. It's like, Gen Z's Google now. Their search engine, their news source, everything. They're forming their whole worldview in that ecosystem. And that's where things get a little, well, concerning. Yeah, you've got ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, a Chinese company, and they were legally obligated to have a Communist Party committee like right there in their ranks. So there's potential for influence there, right? Exactly, and we don't know the extent of it, like how much the Chinese government is actually calling the shots. But we know that TikTok's algorithm, it can create these echo chambers where users are mainly seeing content that reinforces what they already believe. And on the surface, that might not sound so bad. But with something as nuanced and complicated as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Exactly. That kind of selective exposure could have some pretty serious consequences. Absolutely, and there's research. Gabriel Wyman, he did some fascinating work on this in 2022. Okay. He highlighted how much TikTok struggles to control harmful content, including anti-Semitism. Oh, wow. And what's even scarier is that studies have shown how quickly TikTok can expose new users to that type of content. Like how quickly? We're talking a few clicks, and that's what's happening to these young, impressionable minds. Right. A lot of them haven't developed the critical thinking skills to even know what to do with this information. It's like handing someone a loaded gun without teaching them about gun safety first. They see something on TikTok, and without those tools to critically evaluate it. It just becomes their reality. And it's not just about the algorithm itself, it's the content it promotes, or in this case, doesn't promote. That's a great point. There was some research from the NCRI. They found this stark contrast between different platforms during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Really? Yeah. On Instagram, you can find pro-Israel content. There was definitely a voice for it. Okay. But on TikTok, it was a different story, a concerning lack of representation. So not only are they stuck in these echo chambers, they're also being deprived of a whole range of perspectives. Exactly. And as if that wasn't bad enough. There's more. Oh, yeah. We have to talk about TikTok's use of facial recognition technology. Okay, now you've got my attention. Facial recognition on TikTok. What's the issue there? So imagine an algorithm, right, that can actually analyze your micro-expressions while you're watching videos. Like you can tell what you're really feeling. And then it uses that information, those emotional responses, to tailor your content. Hold on. That sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. I know. But we know TikTok's policies allow them to collect this biometric data, like face prints and voice prints. And they say it's to improve content recommendations. That's what they say. But the potential for misuse is huge, especially with a lack of transparency. Yeah, it's basically giving an algorithm, potentially controlled by a foreign government, access to your innermost thoughts and feelings. And all of this is happening during adolescence, arguably the most critical time in a young person's development. When they're trying to figure out who they are, what they believe in. Exactly. Their identities are forming. And to have that process manipulated by an algorithm pushing a specific agenda, it's concerning. It's a potent mix, right? You've got young people naturally wanting to fit in, wanting to be part of something. Spending hours on an app designed to keep them hooked. Even if it means feeding them biased content. Yes. And it's all happening in a system that could be influenced by a foreign government. Yeah, it's the perfect storm. And this is just the beginning. Oh yeah. The story doesn't end there. These online experiences, they set the stage for what happens when these students actually get to campus. Okay. Where a whole different kind of influence is waiting for them. So they get to campus, right? Right. All primed with these narratives they've been absorbing online. Yeah. And they walk right into this environment where those narratives are. Amplified. Amplified, reinforced, you name it. Like the virtual world has prepped them for the real one. Exactly. And that's where the Falcon Shadow comes in. Okay. Falcon Shadow. You're gonna have to explain that one. We're talking about Qatar. And the influence they have, particularly within academia, like American universities. Well on Qatar, universities, what's the connection? It's a lot closer than people realize. We're talking massive, and I mean massive, donations. Okay, but universities get donations all the time. Alumni, companies. This is different. How so? It's the sheer scale of it. Between 2001 and 2021, Qatar poured an estimated $4.7 billion into U.S. higher education. Wow, $4.7 billion. That's not alumni giving back. That's an investment. Exactly, and investments come with expectations. What's Qatar hoping to get out of this? Influence, plain and simple. Soft power, as they call it. Soft power. By funding these universities, even setting up campuses in Doha, they get to shape the narrative. And we're talking pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel. Often, yes. But it's more than just influencing a few lecturers or guest speakers. What do you mean? This money, it often goes directly to student groups, campus events, things that directly impact student life. Like those Students for Justice in Palestine chapters. Exactly, and look, not every SJP chapter is funded by Qatar. Right. But there's a pretty strong correlation between those donations and this uptick in anti-Israel activism on campus. So you've got these students who are already leaning a certain way because of what they're seeing online. Yeah. And then they show up on campus, and boom, there are these well-funded, very vocal groups pushing those same narratives. It's a feedback loop on steroids. And it's not just about promoting one viewpoint over another, is it? No, it's not. It's about creating an environment where certain viewpoints are unwelcome. You got it. And that's where it gets dangerous, especially for Jewish students or anyone who tries to express a more nuanced view on this really complex issue. They're afraid to speak up. Exactly, they self-censor because they're afraid of the backlash, of being ostracized. The research paper mentioned some really disturbing examples of this, right? Yeah, Cornell, Georgetown, Northwestern. We're talking about incidents where this pro-Palestinian activism crossed the line into anti-Semitism. What kind of incidents? Harassment, vandalism, even physical assaults. That's awful, but surely the universities are doing something to stop this. It's a tough situation. Some are starting to take action, implementing policies to protect Jewish students. And to promote more balanced discourse. Right, but it's a tricky balance. Because they're trying to uphold freedom of speech while also protecting students from hate and discrimination. Exactly, and a lot of times there's pushback. People saying these policies are infringing on academic freedom. But when does free speech become hate speech? That's the question. That's the million dollar question. And it's not just about competing rights either. What else? We're talking about a foreign government potentially influencing what happens on American campuses. That's a whole other can of worms. And we can't forget, Qatar has its own agenda here. Right, and it often lines up with groups like Hamas. This isn't just about philanthropy. It's about power. Power, influence, shaping global perceptions. This is some real cloak and dagger stuff we're uncovering here. I know, right? But we can't forget that in the middle of all of this are real students. Yeah. Making choices, joining these groups, buying into these ideologies. Absolutely, it's not just these external forces at play. So what's going on inside their heads? Well, that's where the psychology of all this comes in. Which brings us to the heart of the matter. Okay. We've talked about the digital world, the geopolitical forces at play. But now we need to dive into the psychological mechanisms that are driving all of this. So we've got these external pressures, right? Algorithms feeding them certain narratives. Organizations with tens of money pushing those same messages. It's a lot. But it's the internal stuff, the psychology of it all, that really makes this whole thing tick. Absolutely. The research paper, it uses this phrase, malignant self-criticism. Yeah. It's kind of a heavy term. It is, but it's a real thing, especially for young adults, college students. They're at that age where... Exactly. They're trying to find their place in the world, figure out who they are, what they believe in. And they're being bombarded with all these messages about social justice. And they're rolling it all. It's a lot of pressure. It's like prime time for self-reflection, but also for self-doubt. Exactly. And that's where this malignant self-criticism comes in. So what is it exactly? It's this need, this drive, to not just be good, but to be seen as good. Okay. And not just good, but like perfectly good. Wow, so the stakes are pretty high. They are. And when they inevitably don't meet those standards, because who can live up to that, they turn that criticism inward. It's like a recipe for self-sabotage. In a way, yeah. It's this feeling of never being good enough no matter what they do. And that makes them vulnerable. Oh, absolutely, because they're so desperate to prove their goodness to make things right. And along comes this narrative, this very black and white framing of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Exactly, you've got Israel painted as the oppressor, the Palestinians as the victims. And for a young person, maybe struggling with their own privilege, feeling guilty about things. It's seductive. It's like, here's a way to make amends. By aligning themselves with the oppressed. They get to be on the right side of history. It's almost like moral atonement through activism. And it gives them a sense of purpose, community. They're not just scrolling through TikTok anymore. They're part of something bigger. Even if that something is based on a very distorted understanding of a really complex situation. And that's the danger here. This is what people call the radicalization pipeline. Okay, radicalization pipeline. That sounds pretty serious. It is, because it can start with those seemingly harmless videos on TikTok. Right. And then it's chanting slogans at a rally, and then it's justifying breaking the law, all in the name of this cause. Wow, so how does that happen? How do they go from like zero to 60 like that? The paper breaks it down into four stages. Okay, I'm listening. The first stage is maturation. That's the early exposure, those seeds being planted online. Which, as we talked about, can happen really early on. Exactly, you've got fusion. That's when they get to campus, find like-minded people, join these groups. It's like they're merging with the hive mind. In a way, yeah, they start using the same language, adopting the same ideology, it becomes a big part of who they are. And then things escalate. Right, then it's blurring of ethical boundaries. This is where you see boycotts, shaming tactics. Anyone who disagrees is the enemy. Exactly, there's no room for nuance, for a different perspective. And the final stage. The violation of the law. So we're talking vandalism, harassment, violence. All justified as a means to an end, and it's all driven by this need to be good, to atone for these perceived sins. It's a lot, and it's really scary to think that young people are being pulled into this. It is, so the question is, what do we do about it? How do we protect them? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Where do we even begin? It's not easy, but I think it starts with education. Teaching young people how to think critically, how to evaluate information. So they don't just accept everything they see online as gospel. Exactly, we need to teach them how to spot bias, how to find credible sources. It's about giving them the tools to be informed, discerning citizens. And just as importantly, we need to give them other outlets for their idealism. Because a lot of these students, they really do want to make the world a better place. They do, and there are so many ways to do that, ways that don't involve demonizing entire groups of people. We've covered a lot today, and it's a lot to wrap your head around. It is. And if you're feeling overwhelmed, that's okay. It's natural. It's a complex issue. This isn't about telling you what to think. It's about getting you thinking. So if you're intrigued by what you've heard, go check out the research paper. We've got it linked in the show notes. And keep the conversation going. Tell us what you think on social media. We want to hear from you. Because understanding how these young minds are being shaped, that's the first step in creating a world where they can use those minds to make a real difference. Couldn't have said it better myself.