Research/Study
Inside the right-wing echo chamber's attempt to use Facebook to gin up outrage about critical race theory
Media Matters has identified 64 Facebook groups dedicated to opposing “critical race theory” and 187 Facebook parent groups shifting to focus on it
Published
The right-wing media campaign against “critical race theory” has rapidly expanded on Facebook, with networks of pages and groups spreading viral videos from conservative media. Conservatives who are using Facebook to fearmonger against critical race theory have tapped into existing right-wing networks, GOP-connected activists, and conservative media outlets to leverage outrage against their latest manufactured controversy.
Critical race theory is an academic and legal framework that examines the impact of systemic racism on American society, but it has become conservatives’ latest boogeyman ahead of the 2022 midterms. And while they amplify lies about the academic theory, use it to shut down conversations about race and racism, attempt to scare parents, and promote laws to ban it in schools, they don’t seem to have a clue what the theory actually is and don’t acknowledge that it generally isn’t even taught in K-12 education.
As Media Matters has reported, Fox News has mentioned “critical race theory” nearly 1,300 times since February, and “month over month mentions of the theory have more than doubled … as the network has begun to spin an illusion of what it is and where it’s being taught.” As Fox’s coverage increased, Facebook activity around the topic did too.
Media Matters has identified 64 Facebook groups dedicated to opposing “critical race theory,” with at least 9,800 combined members. Nearly all of these groups were created this year. We have also identified 187 right-wing parent and/or education groups on Facebook, many of which formed to combat “liberal indoctrination” in schools more generally and are now focused on critical race theory. These groups have more than 200,000 combined members.
Some of these groups that Media Matters has identified were created by people who have been amplified by right-wing media as “local parents and teachers” concerned about critical race theory -- but that doesn’t tell the whole story. These figures, including Tatiana Brahimi, Scott Mineo, Ian Prior, and Elana Yaron Fishbein, have been active in conservative politics and right-wing movements such as “Blue Lives Matter,” and now they are leveraging this moment with viral videos, interviews, and Facebook networks to amplify their attacks on critical race theory.
We’ve also identified at least three networks of Facebook groups which are now focusing on “critical race theory” and have ties to local Republican politics, extreme anti-LGBTQ groups and figures, and/or the movements to reopen schools and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.