Internet Extremism: Online Spaces of White Nationalism and Hate-Based Ideologies

• In Event: Online Extremism and Hate Speech

Abstract

The internet functions to connect users to various sources of information. However, across the internet exist dark corners of online spaces that promote extremist ideologies of racism, misogyny, and xenophobia. Hate-based ideologies generated and shared in online spaces carry serious consequences as such spaces can function as breeding grounds for radicalization and extremist violence. Importantly, many ideologies shared in far-right messaging boards routinely draw on ‘science’ to bolster their hate-based arguments, especially about race and gender. This motivates the present study, as we explore the phenomenon within the context of extremist politics. Specifically, we draw on online ethnographic and qualitative content analysis methods to empirically examine the ways in which hate-based ideological groups use race and gender ‘science’ to produce inter and intra group hostility. The implications of our findings for theory and policy are discussed.

Authors

• Katherine Waggoner, University of California, Irvine

• Elliott Alvarado, University of California, Irvine

• Nicole Iturriaga, University of California, Irvine