A study shows extremists are becoming more mainstream

According to a new study, alt-right communities that are based within the online communities 4chan and Reddit have a larger influence on Twitter than previously shown. This is surprising because, formerly, information and communications shared among members of these fringe groups generally did not spill over onto mainstream social media.

Alt-right groups are increasingly becoming sophisticated in the ways they are able to curate content and entice people to share their views. For example, the study shows they now tend to use easily shareable graphics such as memes, jokes, and short worded messages to spread their racist, white supremacist, misogynistic, or anti-Semitic rhetoric. Transmission of their messaging is now easier, faster, and more widespread than ever. One researcher, Whitney Phillips of Mercer University, explains that, “once people [feel] like they are in on the joke, people are likely to engage with them in other ways.”

According to another researcher, Dr. Jeremy Blackburn, “as we continue to see the creation and spread of hoaxes, rumors, and false information online, this knowledge is crucial to understand the risks associated with alternative news and to aid in designing appropriate detection and mitigation strategies.”

As the activities of extremists become more publicly visible through social media, they are increasingly reported on by journalists, especially due to the recent tragedies in Charlottesville and Sutherland Springs. Naturally, reporters want to know what their responses are to these events. This is yet another way that alt-right groups are becoming more mainstream, and as a result, more legitimized.

What do you think: should these groups be censored on social media, or is allowing them into the mainstream a form of freedom of speech and/or a way of balancing perspective in reporting?