There are groups like Britain First whose sole raison d’etre is to spread hate and disseminate vile concepts, wrapping up racism in a blanket of reason so as to propagate and proliferate. They are peddlers of untruths, masters of deception, and the purveyors of philosophy that reaches into the annals of national socialist tomes. For any of colour, of a creed other than a strict white Christianity, and for anyone whose sexual preferences deviate from what they perceive to be the norm, such racist right-wing groups present a clear and present danger, one that not only tolerates but advocates a violent response.

The reality, however, is that groups such as Britain First have existed in the shadows for so long, have been on the fringes, and historically enjoyed little if any support other than the zealots to whom their vile beliefs appealed. But since the turn of this millennium, Britain First and others on the fringes have managed to gain momentum. The events of 9/11 changed our world in a dramatic fashion. And since then, the Muslim community the world over has become fair game for Britain First — and a range of other similar groups the world over.

What has also helped Britain First is its ability now to get its message out to far larger numbers than those who might have been drawn to meetings in quiet corners, or empty community halls. Facebook, in particular, has provided a vehicle on which Britain First’s hate can travel, can reach a vast and unlimited audience, and can allow anyone who might have a slightest incline to be hooked on hate as sure as a fish is trawled into a net.

Britain First’s racist and raw beliefs have taken on a life of their own, fuelled by the oxygen of simply existing on Facebook pages, where videos and multimedia messages and memes multiply and are shared, every ‘like’ a strike at common decency and shared values.

Now, at least, the pages of Facebook are to be closed to Britain First. The social media behemoth is to take similar actions against other hateful groups. Indeed, the move is a clear measure to mitigate the damage that its social media services have done to allow the propagation of racism, meanness and intolerance. Facebook’s move is a good day’s work.

But the cat now is long out of the bag — a good move, but a little too late perhaps.