I was just answering a survey with a question about how "Extremist actors use the internet and social media differently than the average user." Here are 6 ways I have observed far-right extremist actors behaving differently online:
1. Harassment of users. Harassment is a key entertainment activity for these people, and can be carried out both on a single platform AND between platforms (i.e. advertising on Telegram for a DLive channel that is livestreaming a Discord raid).
2. Development of specialized vocabulary and memes to spread hate and build camaraderie. Specialized vocab also can be used to skirt content moderation ("joggers", "big luau", etc.) See also Daily Stormer style guide for more examples of how to propagandize via word choice/ tone.
3. Developing and sharing techniques for ban evasion. This includes simple tactics like changing one's name, as well as elaborate, multi-site exploitation schemes like I'm seeing with one of the banned (formerly on DLive) livestreamers right now.
4. Developing and sharing techniques for creative re-branding, especially for e-celebrities. They need to retain their "brand" so their fans/friends can find them but also need to evade bans. Walking the notoriety line between famous and infamous.
5. Early adoption of niche technologies like decentralized platforms, cryptocurrencies, platforms popular in other countries, etc. While mainstream platforms are important to them for normalizing propaganda & access to harassment targets, niche platforms are more ban-proof.
6. Development of techniques for hiding and hoarding artifacts. Because of the constant banning and de-platforming, these groups will store audio, video, manifestos, in "libraries" or caches that are ban-resistant or which evade hash-based detection.
It's worth noting that #1 & #2 are the reasons they get banned in the first place, and then 3-6 are reactions to various levels of de-platforming. I'm no doubt forgetting some more.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
