Antisemitism online has reached alarming levels over the past two years. Influencers like Dan Bilzerian and Sneako have contributed to the problem by criticizing the Talmud and spreading generalized negative sentiments about Jewish people. High-profile celebrities, including Kanye West, have also used antisemitic rhetoric to generate controversy and media attention—fueling hate under the guise of free speech.
Unfortunately, several public scandals have further complicated the conversation. Figures like Harvey Weinstein and, most notoriously, Jeffrey Epstein—both of whom are Jewish—have been at the center of major controversies. The recent unsealing of Epstein’s calendar revealed meetings with a number of powerful individuals, some of them Jewish, as reported in this article by STL Jewish Light.
While these revelations are concerning, they do not represent the broader Jewish community. It’s critical to distinguish between powerful individuals with questionable behavior and ordinary Jewish people who live quiet, faith-driven lives—like those in Brooklyn or Jerusalem simply attending synagogue or observing holidays. When public discourse fails to make that distinction, it reinforces harmful stereotypes and deepens online hostility.
What’s especially troubling is how internet culture tends to reduce complex identities into simple scapegoats. Hollywood, which is rarely known for its moral compass, often becomes a cultural symbol. As a result, prominent Jewish figures in entertainment and business become “mascots” for the entire Jewish people in the eyes of online conspiracy theorists.
The data is staggering: FCAS.org reports a 51% increase in antisemitic posts on social media in 2024 alone—1.13 billion posts in total, marking the first time that hate-filled content crossed the 1 billion mentions threshold.
This surge is not just a numbers game. Behind these figures are real consequences: threats, violence, fear, and isolation. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) also highlights how this kind of digital antisemitism spills into the real world, creating an unsafe environment for Jewish communities worldwide.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: antisemitism is not just a fringe issue anymore—it’s algorithmically amplified, culturally embedded, and increasingly normalized. It’s up to platforms, institutions, and everyday users to call it out and push back against it before it becomes even more entrenched.
Sources:
https://www.ajc.org/news/antisemitism-online-and-on-social-media-runs-rampant
https://www.fcas.org/sharp-increase-online-posts-antisemitism/
