Radicalization in Games: A Primer

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Extremist actors leverage gaming platforms for recruitment and propaganda, often funneling users from in-game voice and text chats to more organized, game-adjacent platforms like Discord for further coordination.
02
A 2022 study found that 20% of adult gamers reported exposure to white supremacist content, while 47% of women, 44% of African Americans, and 37% of LGBTQ+ players reported experiencing identity-based harassment.
03
The radicalization process in games is often covert, and standard moderation tactics like banning or muting users may inadvertently isolate individuals, potentially accelerating their path toward extremist ideologies.
04
Extremism is defined as the advocacy of hostile views against out-groups, while radicalization refers to the escalation of these views or the endorsement of increasingly violent actions over time.
05
Gaming environments are particularly vulnerable to exploitation due to factors such as community-building features, high rates of existing toxicity, and a frequent lack of effective moderation.
06
Vulnerability to radicalization is influenced by a combination of personal, push, and pull factors, though no specific combination of these traits guarantees an individual will become radicalized.

Summary

This primer addresses the increasing concerns about extremist exploitation within digital games and the radicalization of gamers. It defines extremism as the advocacy of extreme views, often involving hostile action against an out-group, and radicalization as the escalation of an individual's extremist orientation, leading to support for or participation in violent actions. The focus is on the spread and normalization of extremist ideologies within gaming spaces, contributing to radicalization processes.

Extremism in games manifests in various forms, including game content, propaganda, fundraising, and the normalization of rhetoric. A recent study of adult gamers indicated that 20% reported exposure to white supremacist content, while significant percentages of women (47%), African Americans (44%), and LGBTQ+ players (37%) experienced identity-based harassment. The primer clarifies that video games do not cause violence, but rather serve as environments where extremist ideologies are shared and normalized. Radicalization is presented as a gradual process influenced by individual vulnerabilities and situational factors, leading to increasingly radical beliefs and behaviors.

The process of radicalization often begins in basic in-game communication channels for relationship building and propaganda, then funnels individuals to more complex game-adjacent platforms like Discord for coordination and content sharing. Certain characteristics of online games and communities, such as a lack of effective moderation, opportunities for community building, and higher rates of toxicity, make them particularly vulnerable to exploitation by extremist actors. The primer emphasizes that addressing this issue requires a multi-stakeholder approach, involving game studios, research organizations, nonprofits, and government bodies. Recommendations are provided for parents and community members, encouraging awareness and open conversations about online gaming experiences, with further recommendations for the game industry and lawmakers available in the full report. This work is supported by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.