Alex Newhouse

Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism Digitally: Trialing a New Gender-Based Approach Among Gamers

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:13:40 +0000

Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism Digitally: Trialing a New Gender-Based Approach Among Gamers Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 10:13

Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism Digitally: Trialing a New Gender-Based Approach Among Gamers

By: Galen Lamphere-Englund, Mike Wilson, Jessica White, Claudia Wallner, Rachel Kowert, Nitchakarn Kaewbuadee, Petra Regeni, Alex Bradley Newhouse

Abstract:

The rise of online gaming as a dominant social and entertainment space has increasingly attracted attention as a potential vector for radicalization to violent extremism. However, given the challenges of completely eradicating harmful content from these vast community spaces, we also need to focus on strengthening the resilience of individuals active there. To effectively build that resilience, we must first define and understand the current state of resilience among gamers, then identify the factors that contribute to it. This article seeks to do that by building upon the mostly offline-focused Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism framework to explore its applicability in the digital environment and specifically within the highly gendered parameters of gaming spaces and experiences. This article builds upon the wider data collection and findings of a project exploring socialization in gaming spaces with a nexus to radicalization through a gender lens.

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Digital games as cultural assets of influence

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:12:13 +0000

Digital games as cultural assets of influence Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 10:12

Digital games as cultural assets of influence

By: Rachel Kowert, Alex Newhouse

Abstract:

This chapter delves into the vulnerabilities of digital gaming spaces as platforms for the spread of extremist ideologies and recruitment. It argues that games, through their unique blend of social interaction, gamer culture, and game content, present a distinct risk for radicalization that requires particular attention. The chapter outlines how digital games serve as powerful venues for cultural and social influence, enabling the propagation of extremist views by bad actors under the guise of entertainment and community. The social dynamics within games, including the rapid formation of close relationships and identity fusion among players, are highlighted as key factors that can facilitate extremist indoctrination. Moreover, the chapter discusses how the gaming industry's current moderation approaches and lack of transparency exacerbate these issues, allowing extremist messages to proliferate with little resistance...

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Extremist Identity Creation Through Performative Infighting on Steam

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:10:39 +0000

Extremist Identity Creation Through Performative Infighting on Steam Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 10:10

Extremist Identity Creation Through Performative Infighting on Steam

By: Alex Bradley Newhouse, Rachel Kowert

Abstract:

The video game marketplace Steam has long hosted a lively social network for the purpose of connecting game players and game developers. Over the past 5 years, however, neo-fascist and neo-Nazi communities have begun using Steam's community features to build large-scale socialization and identity creation networks. These networks, while insular, involve large numbers of Steam groups and users, who share hateful and violent content with one another. In addition, these same users frequently spread extreme messages on more public-facing content, including in game reviews and game forums. Using open-source data and scaled social network analysis, we show that the far-right ecosystem on Steam possesses characteristics of collective radicalization and mobilization. This poses both an immediate danger to gamers and game developers who rely on Steam and also a longer-term risk to social safety.

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Landscape of extremist behavior in games

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:52:46 +0000

Landscape of extremist behavior in games Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 09:52

Landscape of extremist behavior in games

By: R Kowert, A Newhouse

Abstract:

Game Developers Conference

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Breaking the building blocks of hate: A case study of minecraft servers

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:50:21 +0000

Breaking the building blocks of hate: A case study of minecraft servers Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 09:50

Breaking the building blocks of hate: A case study of minecraft servers

By: Rachel Kowert, Austin Botelho, Alex Newhouse

Abstract:

A report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) center of Technology and Society

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Culturally justified hate: Prevalence and mental health impact of dark participation in games

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:48:42 +0000

Culturally justified hate: Prevalence and mental health impact of dark participation in games Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 09:48

Culturally justified hate: Prevalence and mental health impact of dark participation in games

By: Rachel Kowert, Elizabeth Kilmer, Alex Newhouse

Abstract:

Hate, harassment, and other forms of so-called “toxicity” are colloquially discussed as normalized activities in gaming spaces. However, there are several challenges that have limited researchers’ ability to assess this normalization in terms of the prevalence, nature, and embeddedness of these deviant practices. This work addresses those challenges directly and assesses the rates of dark participation, their mental health impact, player mitigation strategies, and player perceptions around the cultural normalization of these actions within gaming communities. The results provide empirical support for high rates of dark participation in games, a range of mental health consequences to these actions, as well as the endorsement of the culturally justified acceptance of these behaviors within gaming spaces.

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Radicalisation through Gaming: The Role of Gendered Social Identity

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:45:14 +0000

Radicalisation through Gaming: The Role of Gendered Social Identity Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 09:45

Radicalisation through Gaming: The Role of Gendered Social Identity

By: Jessica White, Claudia Wallner, Galen Lamphere-Englund, Rachel Kowert, Linda Schlegel, Ashton Kingdon, Alexandra Phelan, Alex Newhouse, Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin, Petra Regeni

Abstract:

As the popularity and social significance of online gaming have surged, with more than three billion gamers encompassing a broad spectrum of the global population, the urgency to understand how gaming spaces constitute formative identity- and community-building environments is more essential than ever. While acknowledging that many gamers have positive experiences, this project aims to understand, through a gender and intersectional lens, how socialisation processes coupled with exposure to harassment, hate-based discrimination and extreme content can potentially lower resilience to radicalisation in gaming and gaming-adjacent spaces. Governments are increasingly paying attention to this issue, considering regulatory requirements and effective intervention designs. This heightened awareness necessitates a deeper analysis of the nuances and complexities of the threats and risks. Therefore, this report aims to provide much-needed analysis of these issues, guiding the reader through the key research findings of the project ‘Examining Socialization with a Nexus to Radicalization Across Gaming (-Adjacent) Platforms Through a Gender Lens’, which was funded by Public Safety Canada, led by RUSI and implemented by a consortium of members of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network. Taking a cross-cultural global approach and drawing on primary survey data and data collected from and on multiple gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms, this project aims to provide accessible gender-sensitive research analysis, along with pragmatic recommendations for practitioners and policymakers engaged in these spaces. Following a conceptual framing section and a chapter outlining project scope and methodology, project analysis highlights the following four key analytical focuses: 1. An assessment of the prevalence of harmful, toxic and extremist content in gaming spaces. 2. Identification of the importance of (offline) identity and culture in the formation of gamer identity and communities. 3. Analysis of gender norms and dynamics in gaming communities and their potential exploitation for radicalisation and recruitment. 4. Exploration of where gendered socialisation processes combined with normalised exposure to extreme ideas and content can reduce resilience to radicalisation. Overall, this project adds new insights to the growing body of research on the topic of extremism and gaming through the gender and intersectional lens it applies to understanding the complex relationships between gaming, identity, community and radicalization. Additionally, it breaks ground with the focus on cross-cultural data collection. However, it also highlights the need for further research to fully grasp how these dynamics play out across different contexts and identities, contributing to more nuanced and effective approaches to countering radicalisation in gaming spaces.

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Taking it to the extreme: prevalence and nature of extremist sentiment in games

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:30:27 +0000

Taking it to the extreme: prevalence and nature of extremist sentiment in games Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 09:30

Taking it to the extreme: prevalence and nature of extremist sentiment in games

By: Rachel Kowert, Elizabeth Kilmer, Alex Newhouse

Abstract:

More than half of all game players report experiencing some form of hate, harassment or abuse within gaming spaces. While prevalence assessments of these actions in digital gaming spaces are ongoing, little remains known about the more extreme forms of these behaviors. Specifically, experiences of extremism. This paper addresses the gap in research knowledge around the expression of extremist sentiment in games by evaluating their prevalence, location, and nature, and impact. Assessing experiences via an online survey, game players (n = 423) reported an alarmingly high rate of frequency for being the direct target of, as well as a witness to, all forms of extremist content. Most of these experiences were text-based, reported to be happening in-game. Most players endorsed statements relating to a normalization of extreme ideologies within gaming cultures. It is promising that reporting these behaviors was the primary action taken by players for most of the players; however, “ignoring” these actions was also a common strategy. It is possible that player inaction reflects the embeddedness and normalization of these actions in gaming spaces and/or a lack of trust in moderation systems to be responsive. The prevalence of extreme sentiment in gaming cultures should raise concern from game makers, members of the gaming community, parents, and policy makers alike.

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