Tommy Robinson Posts Surge After Southport Stabbing

In the past month, videos featuring right-wing figure Tommy Robinson have amassed over 174.8 million views across various social media platforms, according to an exclusive report by the Independent. Data analyzed by Hootsuite reveals a significant increase in Robinson's online presence, particularly following race riots triggered by the stabbing of three young girls in Southport on July 29. His reach extends across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, Quora, and Reddit, although the figures do not account for his substantial following on Telegram, suggesting the actual numbers could be even higher. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been accused of exacerbating tensions by sharing inflammatory posts and videos that depict chaos in the UK. His social media activity surged dramatically, with mentions of his name skyrocketing from a few hundred per day to 13,800 during the weekend of July 27-28. Since the stabbings, his posts have garnered over 434 million views, highlighting his controversial role in the ongoing discourse surrounding race and immigration. On July 28, Robinson attempted to leave the UK but was detained by police under counter-terrorism powers before being released on bail. He did not attend a court hearing the following day, where he faced contempt charges for violating a court order related to a previous libel case involving a Syrian refugee. Critics argue that Robinson's rhetoric and actions have incited violence against ethnic minorities, raising concerns about the impact of his online influence during a period of heightened racial tensions.