Understanding Online Recruitment and Mobilization Messaging by Active Club Network Content Curators

This study examines how racially and ethnically motivated extremists use online platforms for recruitment and mobilization through a thematic analysis of messaging about the nature and meaning of offline engagement in extremism found on Telegram. The analysis draws on text and image data from posts shared by administrators of Telegram channels associated with the white nationalist Active Club network. It shows that channel administrators portray offline engagement in Active Clubs as a shift away from modern culture; an introduction to a supportive community; a journey of self-improvement; an opportunity to create change; and a difficult path involving risk and challenge.

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Tags: far right, images, offline, online comments, Online communities, online mobilization, online platforms, Recruitment, Right-wing extremism, Telegram, text analysis, White Supremacy