Online Incel Subculture and the Technological Facilitation of Harm - Brenna Helm
TLDRThe discussion focuses on the online subculture of 'incels' or involuntary celibates, highlighting how their community can lead to individual harm and perpetuate group engagement through harmful ideologies. The talk delves into the evolution of the incel community from a supportive group to one fostering misogyny, extremism, and self-destructive behaviors. It emphasizes the role of social media in exacerbating their issues and the need for intervention strategies to address the mental health and societal concerns associated with this subculture.
Takeaways
- 📚 The presentation discusses the online subculture of 'incels' (involuntary celibates) and their potential for causing harm at an individual level and sustaining group engagement despite these harms.
- 👥 Incels initially emerged as a supportive community in 1997 but have since evolved to include hate and extremist beliefs, particularly misogyny and far-right ideologies.
- 🚨 The incel community has gained increased attention from scholars, journalists, and government officials, especially after several mass violence attacks linked to its members.
- 🧐 Incels define themselves not only by their inability to find sexual partners but also by their desire for romantic relationships they cannot enter.
- 🌐 The prevalence of social media and online tools has intensified the focus on gender norms and expectations, which incels believe contributes to their 'inceldom'.
- 📈 Incels use jargon like 'SMV' (Sexual Market Value) to rate themselves and others, often competing over who has the lowest score, reflecting their perceived unattractiveness.
- 💭 The incel community's structure allows for the assignment of labels that broadcast perceived flaws, reinforcing a sense of belonging based on shared negative traits.
- 🧠 The ideology of 'black pill' is seen as a form of liberation for incels, displacing frustration onto external factors like society and women, and reinforcing a nihilistic worldview.
- 🔄 Incels often experience social rejection, isolation, and precarious masculinity, leading to psychological distress that is perpetuated by their online engagement.
- 💔 The online incel community can lead to self-deprecation, hopelessness, and the normalization of suicidal ideation and self-harm as coping mechanisms.
- 🔒 Banning incel spaces is not an effective solution, as it may drive users to more fringe online spaces, and future research should focus on intervention strategies for disengagement.
Q & A
What does the term 'incel' stand for?
-The term 'incel' stands for 'involuntary celibate,' referring to individuals who desire romantic relationships but are unable to enter them.
How did the incel community originate?
-The incel community originated in 1997, founded by a woman seeking a supportive community for those dealing with the frustrations of being single and romantically alienated.
What are some of the key changes that the incel community has undergone since its inception?
-Since its inception, the incel community has evolved from a supportive group to one that harbors hate and extremist beliefs, including misogyny and far-right ideologies. It has also become more aligned with other extremist groups and condones harmful behaviors such as suicidal ideation.
What is the 'black pill' worldview mentioned in the script?
-The 'black pill' worldview is a nihilistic perspective embraced by many incels, which posits that society's structure is the cause of their involuntary celibacy and that nothing can change their situation.
How does social media and online tools impact the incel community?
-Social media and online tools exacerbate the sense of gender norms and expectations, which intensifies the gender practices contributing to the incels' feelings of alienation. These platforms also provide an environment for the community to assign labels and broadcast perceived shortcomings.
What is the significance of the term 'SMV' within the incel community?
-Within the incel community, 'SMV' stands for 'sexual market value,' which is a score out of ten that reflects a person's desirability. Incels often use this to rate themselves and others, with lower scores indicating a perceived inability to achieve relationship goals.
What are some potential harms that individuals in the incel community may experience?
-Individuals in the incel community may experience harm to their self-esteem, mental health, and social connections. The community's focus on hopelessness and self-deprecation can perpetuate feelings of despair, anxiety, and depression.
How does the incel community view the concept of suicide?
-The incel community often accepts and may even encourage suicidal ideation as a form of revenge or a response to perceived injustices. Terms like 'rope fuel' and discussions of assisted suicide are not uncommon within these forums.
What is the role of the online community in the lives of incels?
-The online community serves as a source of support and validation for incels, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings without judgment. However, this community also perpetuates harmful ideologies and can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing.
What are some potential intervention strategies for addressing the issues within the incel community?
-Intervention strategies could involve developing mental health support and promoting positive self-esteem within the community. Additionally, creating alternative online spaces that offer balanced worldviews and discourage harmful ideologies could help in disengagement from extreme incel beliefs.
Why is banning incel spaces not an effective solution?
-Banning incel spaces can drive users to more fringe online spaces that are even more dedicated to incel ideologies. Effective solutions require understanding the factors that contribute to disengagement and developing strategies that address these issues constructively.
Outlines
🎓 Introduction to Incels and their Online Subculture
This paragraph introduces Brenna Helm, a doctoral student at Michigan State, who discusses the online subculture of 'incels' or involuntary celibates. She explains the fundamental beliefs of incels, which include the inability to form romantic or sexual relationships due to perceived physical and psychological limitations. The discussion highlights the evolution of this community from a supportive group for single individuals to one characterized by hate and extremist views, particularly misogyny. The paragraph also notes the increasing concern from various sectors due to the potential for harm facilitated by online incel communities.
🤔 The Influence of Online Platforms on Incels
This paragraph delves into how online social media and dating apps contribute to the intensification of gender norms and expectations, which exacerbate the feelings of inadequacy among incels. It describes the use of jargon within the incel community, such as 'sexual market value' (SMV), to label and rate themselves based on perceived desirability. The paragraph emphasizes the community's tendency to assign blame externally, particularly on women, and the resulting negative impact on self-esteem and mental health. It also touches on the potential harm to self-esteem and mental health due to the importance incels place on their group membership and the shared experiences of social rejection and isolation.
🌑 The Black Pill as a Solution for Incels
This paragraph explores the concept of the 'black pill' as a form of liberation for incels, allowing them to displace their frustrations onto external factors such as society, women, and dating structures. The black pill is described as a nihilistic worldview that nothing can change, which over 95% of incels in a survey found relatable. This perspective further facilitates engagement within the incel community, as it provides a shared understanding that reinforces their experiences and beliefs. The paragraph also discusses the echo chamber effect of online incel forums, which offers little in the way of alternative viewpoints and can perpetuate feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing.
🚨 The Dangers of the Incel Community
The final paragraph addresses the harmful aspects of the incel community, including the acceptance and encouragement of suicidal ideation and self-harm as a form of revenge. It highlights the community's perpetuation of the same struggles that initially drew individuals to the group, but now within an online environment that legitimizes and perpetuates these harmful perspectives. The paragraph also notes the potential for the incel community to drive individuals towards more extreme ideologies and actions, and the challenges in disengaging from these harmful beliefs. It suggests that future research should focus on understanding the factors affecting disengagement and developing intervention strategies to help individuals leave the incel community.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Voluntary Celibates
💡Incel
💡Online Community
💡Misogyny
💡Extremist Groups
💡Suicidal Ideation
💡Black Pill
💡Echo Chamber
💡Social Isolation
💡Self-Deprecation
💡Intervention Tactics
Highlights
Brenna Helm, a doctoral student at Michigan State, discusses the online subculture of 'incels' and their potential harm.
Incel communities can facilitate harm on an individual level and sustain engagement despite those harms.
The term 'incel' refers to individuals who desire romantic relationships but are unable to enter them.
The incel community was initially founded in 1997 by a woman seeking support for being single and romantically alienated.
Hate and extremist beliefs, including misogyny, have grown within incel forums.
Incels often blame online social media and dating apps for heightening gender norms and expectations.
The incel community uses jargon such as 'SMV' (Sexual Market Value) to rate themselves and others.
Incels see themselves at the bottom of the sexual hierarchy due to perceived physical and psychological limitations.
The black pill philosophy, a nihilistic worldview, is highly valued within incel communities.
Incels often report experiences with social rejection, isolation, and precarious masculinity.
The incel community can perpetuate psychological distress and contribute to anxiety, depression, and self-care neglect.
Suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors are accepted, if not encouraged, within incel forums.
Incels may feel more understood and supported within the online community than in their offline lives.
The online incel community can serve as an echo chamber, reinforcing negative beliefs and self-deprecation.
Deviant and violent actions can be neutralized or condoned within incel forums.
Banning incel spaces may drive users to more fringe online spaces, making disengagement more difficult.
Future research should focus on intervention tactics and strategies for individuals engaged in incel communities.