I'd like to understand why so many young people find extremist content so persuasive and engaging. I can't stand it, and I instantly close any website that allows for extreme content.
This is well studied. The summary is that they target isolated or vulnerable people. It's the same with cults, diploma mills, and multi-level marketing schemes.
MLMs. My experience is that MLMs victimized people with high levels of trust and connection.
It often stars with a relative or church member. Or a workmate. The sort of people that are hard to say no to.
They use high pressure sales tactics, combine with exploiting social capital.
Diploma mill. People who don’t have experience with post secondary education, and high trust for authority.
I’m not aware of any network affects. It’s not like your sister in law is pressuring you to get a Ph. D from Baleful University.
I have seen legitimate schools marketed this way: “if you don’t get your kids into Yuppyville Elementary, they wont have a chance at Harvard.”
I’ve seen cults … too many.
Most mainstream religious organizations have people at the margins. People who are mentally ill. Have drug issues. Etc.
It’s hard to incorporate them into the mainstream of church life. But most churches feel they are obligated to reach out to people like that.
Para-church organizations are becoming more popular. Like knights of Columbus (they’re old). If someone wants to start up a para church org, there’s not much anyone can do to stop them. They piggy back on mainstream denominations.
Combining people with issues with unmanaged para-church orgs can be toxic, and lead to cults quickly.
I know most people on HN probably have a negative view of religion, and don’t make much of a distinction between “good religion” and “bad cult.”
But a good example is anti-vaccination ideas. Almost no major religious body rejects COVID vaccines. It’s the para church orgs doing that.
It’s the same environment that creates predatory groups like “I the leader, and like Abraham must have multiple wives … and I chose all of you as my wives.”