Extremists using platforms like Twitch, Discord to recruit & radicalise players: Study
Gaming has become an integral part of modern entertainment, with millions of people around the world engaging in online multiplayer games, chatting with fellow players, and sharing their experiences on platforms like Twitch and Discord. However, a recent study published in Frontiers of Psychology has raised concerns about the misuse of these platforms by extremist groups to recruit and radicalise gamers.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, found that extremist groups are exploiting the popularity of gaming platforms to spread their ideologies and attract new members. The researchers analyzed data from online gaming communities and identified a significant presence of extremist groups, with far-right extremism being the most commonly shared ideology.
“These platforms offer extremists direct access to large, often young and impressionable audiences,” said Dr. Andrew Fox, a co-author of the study. “Extremist groups are exploiting the anonymity and lack of adult supervision in these online spaces to spread their ideologies and recruit new members.”
Twitch and Discord are two of the most popular gaming platforms that allow players to chat and game simultaneously. While these platforms were initially designed for entertainment purposes, they have also become a hub for extremist groups to spread their ideologies and recruit new members.
The study found that extremist groups are using various tactics to spread their ideologies and recruit new members. These tactics include spreading propaganda and hate speech, sharing violent and offensive content, and even using gaming terminology to mask their extremist views.
For example, the study found that some extremist groups were using gaming terms like “salty” (angry or upset) to describe their feelings towards the opposing team, while also using hate speech and racist language. This tactic is designed to make their ideologies seem more relatable and appealing to gamers who may not be familiar with extremist views.
The study also found that extremist groups are using gaming platforms to recruit new members and spread their ideologies. This is often done by creating fake gaming communities or infiltrating existing ones, where they can spread their ideologies and recruit new members.
The researchers analyzed data from online gaming communities and identified several extremist groups that were using gaming platforms to spread their ideologies. These groups included white supremacist groups, anti-government groups, and religious extremist groups.
The study’s findings have significant implications for the gaming industry and policymakers. The study highlights the need for gaming platforms to take action to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and to protect users from recruitment and radicalization.
“The gaming industry has a responsibility to take action to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and to protect users from recruitment and radicalization,” said Dr. Fox. “This includes implementing strict moderation policies, reporting suspicious activity, and working with law enforcement to identify and disrupt extremist groups.”
In conclusion, the study highlights the need for gaming platforms to take action to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies and to protect users from recruitment and radicalization. The gaming industry has a responsibility to ensure that its platforms are safe and secure for all users, and that they do not provide a haven for extremist groups to spread their ideologies and recruit new members.
