Adolescence shows how toxic online cultures radicalise. But the propaganda is difficult to spot

Adolescence is a gripping portrayal of how young people often searching for a sense of community or belonging can find themselves pulled into toxic subcultures online. It sheds light on a disturbing process: how seemingly ‘innocent’ discussions, memes, and viral posts can subtly brainwash vulnerable minds, leading them down a path of radicalisation and, ultimately, real-world violence. 

The rise of social media has radically transformed the way we interact, communicate, and consume information. Platforms like Reddit, 4chan, and TikTok are now central to how we share ideas, form communities, and shape our identities. However, as Adolescence shows, these platforms have also become breeding grounds for some of the most harmful ideologies of our time, including misogyny, far-right extremism, and incel culture. The show serves as a warning – highlighting how social media acts as a warped filter of reality, distorting the worldview of its users, especially the young and impressionable.

What’s particularly chilling is how these harmful ideologies spread in ways that are often difficult to identify: the language used within these online spaces is often subtle with seemingly harmless “jokes” or memes that conceal deeply ingrained and dangerous beliefs. 

Individuals are often so deeply embedded within the toxic environment though that they struggle to even recognise the radicalisation process – making it even harder to remove themselves from the grip of such harmful places.

Unchecked social media is reinforcing harmful narratives

One of the most insidious aspects of social media today is the unchecked, algorithm-driven model that powers these platforms. Algorithms, designed to maximise user engagement, prioritise content that generates strong emotional reactions, whether outrage, fear, and anger. It’s no surprise, then, that these platforms amplify extreme ideologies that play into these emotions, creating echo chambers where harmful narratives are reinforced and normalised.

The online world is rife with groups that radicalise young minds, often under the guise of “alternative” or “countercultural” communities on widely accessible platforms including 4chan, Reddit, Discord, and TikTok. While incel culture may be the most prominent example, other spaces such as white supremacist forums, far-right groups, niche subgroups that glorify violence, promote paranoia, or even the disturbing rise of ‘AI Lovers’ (virtual companions created through artificial intelligence) – all contribute to these digital environments that reinforce harmful notions of objectification, control, and detachment from authentic, healthy human relationships. 

Content that may appear harmless on the surface often harbours sinister ideologies that gradually shape and distort users’ perceptions. In an increasingly fragmented society, those searching for ‘belonging’ are particularly susceptible to this form of content. The algorithmic loops they become trapped in make it difficult for them to distinguish between genuine discussion and radicalised propaganda – something powerfully illustrated in Adolescence.

Inequality, precarious employment, and a lack of social mobility make fertile ground for extremism

To understand why these online subcultures are thriving, we must look at the bigger picture. In an era of rising economic inequality, shrinking job opportunities, growing political polarisation, and the increasing precarity of work and social mobility, many young people find themselves disillusioned, alienated, and searching for answers. This creates a fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish.

Nowadays, young people are hyper-conditioned to define themselves through products, brands, and other external markers of validation – particularly in the online world, where users chase followers, likes, and material success. Facing this relentless pursuit of external approval creates immense pressure to conform, and when these markers of worth go unmet, feelings of inadequacy and failure inevitably arise. It is precisely these vulnerabilities that extremist ideologies exploit; offering a simplistic, yet seductive narrative to blame the system, peers, men, women, minorities, or any other scapegoat for their struggles.

These narratives are appealing alternatives to the more uncomfortable reality of confronting internal personal challenges, and offer a sense of “purpose” and “community” within a world that increasingly equates success with surface-level accomplishments. 

Online platforms are also designed to maximise profit. This means they prioritise content that generates the highest levels of engagement, often in the form of sensationalist material that captivates users, keeping them scrolling and increasing advertising revenue. The more divisive and provocative the content, the more profitable it becomes; creating a feedback loop that rewards extreme viewpoints. This means that far from being neutral spaces, social media platforms can amplify extremism and sideline meaningful discussion.

How to break the cycle

It is essential to foster critical digital media literacy among young people. This involves not only teaching them how to identify misinformation but also helping them understand how radicalisation works and the deceptive tactics employed by extremist groups. 

We need to equip young people with the tools and frameworks they need to question, deconstruct, and critically engage with the content they encounter online. By empowering and educating our youth, we can help them navigate the digital landscape more safely, allowing them to recognise and hopefully resist harmful ideologies before they take hold. 

As Adolescence illustrates, the search for connection often leads individuals into these toxic subcultures; by providing the tools to critically engage with their digital worlds, we can help them find healthier, more constructive forms of belonging.

Dr Sophie James is a lecturer in security and protection science at Lancaster University Management School. James Cronin is professor of marketing and consumer studies at Lancaster University Management School.

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