Research indicates that neurodivergent people face unique risks of exploitation online. There is no direct causal link between neurodivergence and violent extremism but there are identifiable vulnerabilities, including:

• Social isolation;
• Communication differences and difficulties interpreting online content;
• Certain traits can sometimes overlap with extremist narratives, such as sensory sensitivities, rigid thinking patterns, or vivid fantasy ideation;
• Susceptibility to manipulation, or to self-radicalisation, due to online algorithms that reinforce extremist content;
• Neurodivergent young people are particularly vulnerable when they leave school, and join a new adult community for the first time;
• Neurodivergent children are often misunderstood by criminal justice practitioners in counter-terrorism contexts;
• Neurodivergence is framed as a form of multiple disadvantage. People with neurodiverse conditions often face repeated contact with the justice system, which can intersect with vulnerability to extremist recruitment.

Researchers and practitioners highlight a number of practical recommendations for safeguarding neurodivergent individuals against online extremism:

Tailored education & digital literacy

• Provide neurodivergent people with structured, clear guidance on how extremist grooming works online;
• Use accessible formats (visuals, step-by-step guides) to help them spot manipulative content.

Resilience building

• Encourage critical thinking skills and safe online habits;
• Support neurodivergent youth in developing coping strategies for rigid thinking patterns or black-and-white interpretations that extremists often exploit.

Practitioner training

• Train teachers, social workers, and law enforcement to distinguish neurodivergent traits from extremist behaviours;
• Avoid misinterpreting literal communication styles or obsessive interests as signs of radicalisation.

Algorithm awareness

• Recognise that recommendation systems can intensify exposure to extremist material;
• Promote tools and parental controls that reduce algorithmic reinforcement loops.

Supportive networks

• Strengthen family, peer, and community connections to reduce isolation;
• Encourage safe online communities where neurodivergent individuals can explore interests without exploitation.

Early intervention

• Identify vulnerabilities (eg, social exclusion, bullying, unmet support needs) that extremists may target;
• Provide proactive mental health and social support before extremist recruiters can exploit these gaps.

In short, the emphasis should be on resilience, education, and practitioner awareness rather than surveillance or punishment. Music4children supports the goal of protecting neurodivergent individuals from exploitation while respecting their rights and differences. While we work to achieve this ambition for our own projects, we feel it is important to highlight all policy and system-level recommendations, including those that go beyond our sphere of influence:

• Holistic safeguarding: Treat neurodivergence as a factor in vulnerability, not as a cause of extremism;
• Justice system reform:  Ensure neurodivergent children are not disproportionately flagged in counter-terrorism contexts due to misunderstanding;
• Cross-sector collaboration:  Link schools, healthcare, and online safety organisations to share best practices.