Expo reports that Sweden's right-wing extremist environment has evolved, with traditional organized groups losing ground to more loosely-structured networks of youths. The ideas in this environment are being normalized, with companies like Meta and X making it easier for right-wing extremist influencers to have greater visibility and reach a wider audience. Expo states that since Elon Musk's acquisition of social media platform X in 2022 and Donald Trump's election to the White House in 2024, social media has facilitated the massive spread of hateful, racist and extremist content, which has had a direct impact on young people.
The share of youths who reject democracy has increased in recent years, according to Expo citing the Ungdomsbarometern survey. Schoolchildren have become more intolerant toward minorities, based on a Living History Forum report cited by Expo. Teachers have reported seeing students doing Nazi salutes in schoolyards, as children increasingly spread openly antisemitic ideas online.
A trend on TikTok in 2025 involved teens and young people posting pictures of themselves in everyday situations with the caption 'Hate Jews, Love Girls'. Sweden's intelligence service Säpo has repeatedly warned of the risk of youths being radicalized online. In 2025, Expo documented 1,465 activities in extreme-right circles, up from 1,245 a year earlier.
The increase in activities was largely attributed to the rise of so-called 'Active Clubs' in Sweden, an international movement of loosely structured groups that meet in gyms and aim to promote white-nationalist, misogynist and hyper-masculine ideology. Daniel Poohl, the head of Expo, stated that Swedish right-wing extremism is undergoing a transformation, with traditional organizations struggling to engage new activists while new, loosely-organized networks are emerging and attracting young people. He added that this is creating a more fragmented, harder-to-grasp, and potentially more dangerous environment.
A right-wing extremist youth culture driven by antisemitic memes has gained a foothold in Sweden. According to Expo, the development is reinforced by changed algorithms that reward the spread of hate and conspiracy theories. The Swedish racial ideological environment is no longer shaped only by organized groups, but also by a right-wing extremist youth culture.
Poohl further explained that what can be seen and is told by teachers, school staff, and local situation reports is a trend right now where especially young men indulge in these ideas in a very open way. They do Nazi salutes in schoolyards, spread open antisemitism on social media, and are influenced by these ideas, which has primarily been made possible by the extreme spread of such material online. Expo cites a review by Fortune magazine that has shown how changes in Meta's algorithms, which owns Facebook and Instagram, have had a direct impact on the spread of antisemitism primarily on Instagram.
Poohl noted, referencing that review, that it is possible to trace decisions made by Meta's board to the fact that young people today encounter antisemitism and right-wing extremist material at levels not seen before. '. Another phenomenon is clips with so-called 'Agartha edits', which spread the idea of a mythological kingdom reserved for white people, where in a clip that has spread, the gatekeeper of Agartha is Norwegian football star Erling Haaland.
Poohl emphasized that the normalization and foothold of these ideas means a great potential for the organized racial ideological environment in Sweden, such as the Nordic Resistance Movement and Active Club Sweden. He warned that even if they are not absorbed by established groups, they may want to make these fantasies a reality, and this is seen in various contexts, posing a security risk and a risk for the local communities where these people are. The specific measures being taken by Swedish authorities or social media platforms to counter this radicalization and spread of extremist content remain unclear.
Additionally, it is unknown how many youths are estimated to be involved in these loosely-structured networks or influenced by this culture. The direct impact on young people's behavior or violence rates as a result of this online radicalization has not been detailed in the reports.