Pointer 2026

Since councilor Ashley North rolled out the new parking policy in Leiden, he has become the target of online hate and threats. He is increasingly being verbally abused on the street, until eventually, at a residents' meeting, he is threatened with death multiple times. How could it escalate to this point? Currently, about half of local politicians are dealing with aggression. Local party leader Femke Hoekstra-Wittebol also experiences this, having been intimidated and insulted online for almost a year. Why is it so difficult to curb this problem? Are we doing enough to tackle online perpetrators?

Fights, humiliations, and bullying that are filmed and spread across various social media platforms: a growing group of underage youths is involved in this type of violence video. Researchers call it hybrid violence: the violence is already severe for the victims, but because it is spread online, the damage increases further. A survey among schools shows that this new phenomenon also causes problems at school. What can be done against this form of hybrid violence? And, what is the responsibility of the social media platforms?