Extremist Online Activity Overview
- Exit Hate Guest Writer
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
At this current moment in time the mass majority of far right recruitment happens online.
Using social media and gaming, the ERW (Extreme Right-Wing) are targeting young people, those lost and individuals feeling unheard and lonely.
Using popular mainstream video games like Grand Theft Auto (GTA), EA FC (formally known as FIFA), ROBLOX, Rust, Call of Duty (COD), Fortnite and many more the ERW knows what it is doing and is active 24 hours a day, across the globe.
Highlighting that while these games are NOT far right games. The far-right will use anything to promote its message and use mainstream titles to promote their message of hate and recruit.
Looking at how they operate, we can see the ERW go onto game modes on these video games and talk to anyone in the game who will listen.
Engaging with people, they will start a conversation around topics they know people will be interested in IE Gaming, Music and Football for example.
From there, they will talk for a short period of time in the video game about the chosen topic that the victim of recruitment is into.
After a few conversations, if the recruiter thinks the person would be useful, they will invite them into into a chat forum, which is more private and try and have a 1 to 1 chat with someone. IE a party chat or a discord chat.
At this point, the recruitment process will slowly start.
Starting off with what sounds like innocent sounding questions regarding current affairs, this is to see if the recruitment target has a knowledge of politics, or maybe even an issue that could b e exploited.
From this the recruiter will then make negative comments, it could be about society, the state of the country, the government, anything, to see if the victim agrees with them, or has any knowledge of politics or is angry about something.
From here the recruiter could even make negative comments about a minority group, or a group of people that the recruiters particular far right group doesn’t like, to see if the recruitment target agrees.
If they agree with any of the negative comments, the far right member will seek to open the door more, become 'friends', laugh and joke with the recruitment target, so it seems like the 2 people are developing a real friendship.
From this, after a short amount of time, the far right activist will make an excuse to leave, but they will ask the recruitment target to join another online forum, or maybe a group chat to continue the conversation later.
Starting to divide the individual they are talking to, when they move to the next group, then they will be met, by others, who welcome them to the new group, engage and start to make the person feel, like they are home, that they belong and have finally met people they can trust, be open with and be heard.
Talking more openly, epople will be encouraged to talk about things that bother them and from here, there is not just one recruiter, but multiple recruiters, each one reinforcing the other and making the person, sucked in feel part of a network of people who understand things, want to support each other and even do something about things they dont like.
Sadly a lot of young and vulnerable people do this, only to become recruitment targets of extremists and from here they will be used and manipulated.
To reduce this happening, there are a few things people can do.
People should only engage with people they know.
Anyone you don’t know, you shouldn't engage with, even if it's for a short time, as this will only open a door, the extremist will seek to exploit.
People should not visit forums to ask questions about concerns they have which are political in nature, as on such forums, extremist recruiters may be members of these forums waiting to engage with people who have concerns or worries.
People should not accept invites to join groups offering free games, these could be locations which open up access to extremist games, which often aim to promote violence against people and different communities.
Remember it isn’t only the far right who recruit this way. ALL forms of extremism do.
Offering alternatives to extremist messaging Exit Hate have created a ROBLOX game called Pathfinder and another called Choices Matter, which are available to play by clicking on the links below.
Choices Matter - https://www.roblox.com/games/103151593928400/Choices-Matter
To gain access to various support links, people can visit our Facebook Page, which advertises a lot of support links on various subjects. Just click the link below.
To find out more about internet safety - please visit - https://www.internetmatters.org
Speaking from experience of being manipulated online, I didn't see it at the time, and I wish someone would have told me about the dangers and how activists recruit.
Looking back, I don't blame them, because they are being used as well, with most people involved, there because the ERW seem to offer safe spaces to talk, friendship, they listen and make you feel at home and valued.
But it's not real!
It's a dangerous world, where people get used, and you can put yourself in danger by talking to people, anywhere in the world, who promote extremism as a way to solve very difficult issues.
Today i see that, but when i was involved, I didn't.
Now having walked away, with support, I have a new start and i'm focused on the future and not the past.
Join me, put yourself first and create a life, where you aren't always looking over your shoulder.
You can do it.
Max - Former ERW Activist.
