Online antisemitism hits record high three years after October 7, study finds

A new report by the Online Hate Prevention Institute finds that online antisemitism has reached record levels three years after the October 7, 2023 attacks, with none of the major social media platforms returning to prewar baselines. The study analyzed over 29,500 antisemitic items across 11 platforms, finding that traditional tropes remain dominant.

Online antisemitism has reached record levels three years after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, according to a new report by the Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI). The Australian research institute found that July-September 2026 recorded the highest levels of antisemitic content in any three-month period since it began monitoring social media in 2022. None of the major social media platforms monitored have returned to their prewar baselines. The study analyzed over 29,500 antisemitic items across 11 platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Telegram, Gab, BitChute, and Threads. Each item was reviewed and classified by expert analysts using a consistent methodology. Traditional antisemitic tropes, including conspiracy theories about Jewish power and influence, blood libels, and accusations of collective Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus, remain the dominant category on most platforms. This challenges claims that the rise in recorded antisemitism can largely be explained by legitimate criticism of Israel being misclassified, the report said. On LinkedIn, Israel- and Zionism-related antisemitism accounted for more than 70 percent of collected material. Holocaust denial content appeared mainly on mainstream social media rather than fringe platforms. Violence-related antisemitism increased on YouTube and TikTok. Temporary declines on Meta platforms during June and July coincided with testimony before Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism. The report recommends stronger government regulation and penalties for non-compliant platforms.