BREAKOUT SESSIONS 3
Panel 3A: Incels
Chair: Jack Springett-Gilling (Swansea University)
Into the Mainstream: Understanding the Communication Strategies of Incel Content on TikTok and YouTube Anda Solea (University of Portsmouth) [Co-author: Prof Lisa Sugiura (University of Portsmouth)] Abstract: TikTok and YouTube, two of the leading mediums in the social media landscape, have seen an insurgence in hateful anti-feminist content. Incels (involuntary celibates), an online subcultural group, have become an increasing security concern following their association with several mass-casualty attacks and cyber violence predominantly directed at women. Once mostly contained on niche men’s forums, blackpilled incel communities are gaining prominence on mainstream platforms. The present study examines the tactics employed by accounts disseminating the blackpill ideology on TikTok and YouTube. Employing Multimodal Discourse Analysis, we explore how different forms of communication, such as text, images, and audio are used to convey the blackpill ideology to appeal to wider audiences. Additionally, we investigate video metadata, such as hashtags, likes, views, and comments, to understand the role of popular video-sharing platforms and their unique features in amplifying the visibility of incel content and driving engagement. The study offers a comparative analysis between TikTok and YouTube, uncovering the differences and similarities in the content and style of incel videos present and their reception. The implications resulting from the increased visibility of incel tropes, theories and misinformation are considered and recommendations for content moderation strategies aimed at tackling the spread of misogynistic narratives online are discussed. The Chad in the Mirror: A mixed-methods analysis of self-perceptions and grievances in video and textual incel content JJ West (American University) [Co-authors: Kaitlyn DaVisio (American University)] Abstract: Involuntary celibates (incels) exist in online milieus, circulating and reinforcing their male supremacist ideology amongst like-minded others. In 2014, the first self-identified incel attacker used these digital beliefs to justify widespread violence. Since then, a number of subsequent attackers have followed suit. The present study seeks to evaluate differences in internal and external perceptions between online incel personas and real-world perpetrators of mass violence associated with the community. Using a combination of language and sentiment analysis and qualitative code-booking, we examine variation in the presentation of grievances and self-perceptions from self-identifying incels. We further compare content from social media incel forum posts and pre-attack manifestos and video blogs to identify common narrative themes. Given their continued prevalence on social media, understanding the myriad of ways male supremacist ideologies manifest themselves is a crucial first step to identifying potential routes toward intervention.
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