Abstract

The Internet has become a major arena for radicalization, extending far beyond mainstream social media into tightly controlled niche forums. This paper investigates how virtual extremist communities structure onboarding and gatekeeping processes in these environments. Using a cross-case study design drawing on ethnographic techniques, we compare how established members of the misogynistic forum incels.is and the white supremacist forum stormfront.org control access, regulate participation and judge credibility. Using a Community of Practice Framework, we show that both forums are suspicious of newcomers, but employ distinct gatekeeping strategies. On Incels.is, onboarding resembles a “trial by fire”: Constant hostility is used to test commitment, enforce hierarchies, and protect against infiltration. On Stormfront, the onboarding is mission-driven following a more structured approach, supported by extensive self-study material and even occasional tutelage. Our findings highlight socialization differences between online extremist communities as well as gatekeeping differences (i.e. absence of “deep commitment”) to traditional radicalization.

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