Hidden order in online extremism and its disruption by nudging collective chemistry

TL;DR

This paper uncovers a hidden mathematical order in online extremism movements like Boogaloo and ISIS, showing they follow similar evolution patterns and proposing nudging strategies to disrupt their growth.

Contribution

It reveals a shared mathematical structure in online extremism evolution and introduces a method to disrupt their development through targeted nudging.

Findings

Boogaloo and ISIS share a similar online mathematical order

A shockwave equation models extremism evolution across scales

Nudging can effectively disrupt online extremism growth

Abstract

We show that the eclectic "Boogaloo" extremist movement that is now rising to prominence in the U.S., has a hidden online mathematical order that is identical to ISIS during its early development, despite their stark ideological, geographical and cultural differences. The evolution of each across scales follows a single shockwave equation that accounts for individual heterogeneity in online interactions. This equation predicts how to disrupt the onset and 'flatten the curve' of such online extremism by nudging its collective chemistry.