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SOCIAL SCIENCES

Social sciences examine human behavior, social structures, and interactions in various settings. Fields such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics study social relationships, cultural norms, and institutions. By using different research methods, social scientists seek to understand community dynamics, the effects of policies, and factors driving social change. This field is important for tackling current issues, guiding public discussions, and developing strategies for social progress and innovation.

From Banal to Extreme: When Benign Online Communities Become Breeding Grounds for the Far-Right

By Yasmine Wong and Antara Chakraborthy

SYNOPSIS
The recent case of a 14-year-old male Singaporean radicalised through extremist content illustrates the dangers of how seemingly benign communities and platform algorithms are pipelines for radicalisation.


COMMENTARY

A 14-year-old male Singaporean was recently issued with Restriction Orders (RO) under Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) for online self-radicalisation by what has been termed a “salad bar” of extremist ideologies, leading him to support the cause of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and far-right ideologies, such as the incel (aka involuntarily celibate) subculture.

The teenager had started unintentionally by accessing dubious or questionable far-right material posted by foreign extremists, which was recommended to him by platform algorithms after he consumed true crime content. This eventually led him to imbibe content supportive of the far-right and to join communities with violent antisemitic beliefs.

His encounter with incel (a portmanteau of “involuntary celibate”) ideology was similarly unintentional. An incel is a member of an online subculture of mostly male and heterosexual people who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner, often blaming or hating women as a result. 

In 2023, after becoming more self-conscious about his appearance, he came across “looksmaxxing” content, a part of the incel subculture that focuses on maximising one’s own physical attractiveness. He started posting and sharing incel content online.

This transition reveals an interesting, albeit insidious, aspect of digital networks – the overlap and blurring of boundaries between extreme and benign communities, creating a pathway from the banal to the extreme. Increasingly, according to Matthew Kriner, managing director of the Accelerationism Research Consortium, “anything and everything is becoming a viable pathway to violence”.

Specifically, “antisocial, decentralised, online networks” are overlapping in ways that “encourage and inspire” young people to commit atrocities and various forms of violence. Amplified by algorithms, these ideologies are often deeply embedded within internet culture, making their extremist tenets difficult to detect.

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Technology, Community, SociologyShamaya Banks