New Study by Oliver Marks: Antisemitic Instagram Reels Go Viral Nearly Seven Times More Often
Antisemitic content on Instagram is capturing a disproportionate share of audience attention. A new study conducted by the Antisemitism Research Center at the Combat Antisemitism Movement reveals that such videos are nearly seven times more likely to rank among the top-performing posts on major clip-sharing accounts compared to standard content.
Researchers analyzed 1,960 short-form videos posted between June 14 and July 14, 2026, across five prominent accounts specializing in curated clips from well-known streamers, including Sneako, Myron Gaines, and Adin Ross. The analysis was limited to videos that garnered over 5,000 views.
At first glance, the proportion of antisemitic material appeared relatively small—92 videos, making up just 4.7% of the total sample. However, the picture shifted dramatically when researchers examined the most successful posts. Among the 75 most-viewed videos, the share of antisemitic content spiked to 32%. In other words, these videos landed in the top tier of popularity 6.8 times more frequently than their overall volume would suggest.
In total, the 92 videos featuring antisemitic rhetoric amassed nearly 39 million views, averaging roughly 423,000 views each.
According to study author Oliver Marks, this trend is driven by more than just the spread of radical ideologies. Increasingly, such content is being leveraged in the attention economy, where views and engagement are the ultimate metrics of success. If a specific topic consistently generates high reach, creators will exploit it regardless of their own personal beliefs.
The business model behind clip-sharing accounts further fuels this dynamic. Repurposing a viral stream highlight requires neither original content creation nor advanced editing skills. Moreover, the backlash for controversial statements is typically directed at the original streamer rather than the account distributing the clip. This degree of separation allows account operators to monetize inflammatory content without directly associating themselves with its underlying message.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement notes that traditional content moderation methods are becoming increasingly ineffective in this environment. Many accounts distributing these videos do not outwardly present themselves as peddlers of antisemitism; instead, they post a wide variety of content. As a result, the study’s authors argue that scrutiny must extend beyond individual users to the recommendation algorithms themselves, which often incentivize the spread of hate speech by rewarding high-engagement material.
