Digital Behaviours
From the Editor
From the rapid evolution of generative AI to the growing influence of online communities, the ways in which people interact, mobilise, and make decisions in digital spaces are shifting at pace. Understanding how these digital environments shape behaviour is central to addressing security challenges.
In this issue of CREST Security Review, produced in collaboration with the NetworkPlus for Analytical Behavioural Science (NABS+) in Security and Defence, we explore how digital behaviours influence trust, decision-making, and risk, and what this means for security practitioners.
We begin by examining how influence operates online and how it can shape collective behaviour. Wischerath explores how influencers indirectly mobilise action by defining group norms and boundaries, while Bliuc et al. show how even small increases in influencer appeal can have disproportionate effects on polarisation. Lowery extends this discussion by exploring how digital platforms enable new and evolving forms of mobilisation.
Next, we look at how people engage with and respond to information, particularly in high-pressure or uncertain contexts. Liu et al. highlight the importance of epistemic reciprocity in emergencies, demonstrating how the ways in which information is shared and reciprocated can be critical to saving lives. Davidovic considers the digital bystander dilemma, examining why individuals choose to intervene—or not—in online settings.
Turning to the nature of digital content itself, we begin with questions of trust. Agarwal and Nightingale explore the challenge of securing media authenticity in the age of generative AI, and how content credentials may help users assess what they see online.
Next, we consider how digital content reflects and reveals behaviours. Innes highlights deceptive digital behaviours that warrant greater attention, and Orpen et al. show how social media data can be used to understand information threats, emphasising the need for careful contextualisation. Building on how digital content can be analysed to generate insight, Polajnar demonstrates how computational analysis of language can uncover patterns linked to violence against women and girls while Cook shows how machine learning can transform police administrative data into operationally useful information.
Beyond the theme, we examine how decision-making affects security. Searle and Fida show how workaholism can create overlooked organisational risks. Merla et al. offer strategies to reduce implicit bias in high-stakes professional judgement. Smith and Jones conclude with an exploration of the resilience of defence and security personnel and its impact on performance and safety.
Finally, we have ‘Resources on Digital Behaviours’, where we have collected past CREST guides, reports, and articles on digital behaviours, and, as always, refer to the ‘Read More’ section for research underpinning our articles and additional reading. We value your feedback and welcome your suggestions for future editions; please share your thoughts via the survey link.
Rebecca Stevens
Editor, CSR
