THE ONLINE EXTREMIST ECOSYSTEM: Its Evolution and Framework for Separating Extreme from Mainstream
Abstract
In this Perspective, the first in a forthcoming series by RAND on online white supremacist and violent misogynist material, we describe how the internet has become a safe harbor for these views and introduce a framework with which internet users can categorize the social media platforms they engage with and understand their potential to contain extreme content. We provide a landscape of the online extremist "ecosystem," describing how the proliferation of messaging forums, social media networks, and other virtual community platforms has coincided with an increase in extremist online activity. Next, we present a framework to describe and classify the platforms that host varying amounts of extreme content as one of three categories: mainstream, fringe, or niche. Mainstream platforms are those where only a small portion of the content would be considered inappropriate or extreme speech. Fringe platforms are those that host a mix of mainstream and extreme content--and where a user might readily come across extreme content that is coded or obscured to disguise its violent or racist underpinning. Niche platforms are those that openly and purposefully cater to an extreme audience.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1154178
Entities
People
- Alexandra T. Evans
- Bryce Downing
- Erik E. Mueller
- Heather J. Williams
- Jamie Ryan
Organizations
- RAND Corporation