Project description
Unmasking toxicity in online nerd communities
Once a refuge for fans of games, tech, and fandom, online nerd communities are increasingly showing a darker side. Misogyny, exclusionary ideologies, and extremist views have taken root in certain groups, from the GamerGate controversy to the rise of incel networks. With this in mind, the ERC-funded DANCE project aims to shed light on how these ‘dark nerd communities’ evolved. Specifically, it will study the social, communicative, and structural forces that drive toxicity. Researchers map community diversity, analyse group dynamics, and examine the influence of manipulative actors. Combining computational methods, surveys, and in-depth qualitative research, DANCE seeks to understand everyday online degradation and test interventions to make digital spaces safer.
Objective
The online world of adolescent nerd communities, once a refuge for enthusiasts of digital games, technology, and fandom, has taken a troubling turn. Previously harmless niche groups have evolved into ‘dark nerd communities,’ where exclusionary ideologies, misogyny, and extremist views have taken root. Events like GamerGate and the ‘incel’ movement exposed sexism, anti-liberalism, and connections to alt-right ideologies, raising critical questions about the processes behind this shift.
This research project aims to explore the mechanisms by which these communities degrade into toxic environments. It seeks to map the diversity within dark nerd communities and dissect the processes driving their toxic evolution, including individual and structural features, group dynamics, and the influence of manipulators (so-called ‘dark agents’). Unlike previous studies focusing on either generalized online risks or extreme cases like incel hate crimes, this project will examine the social and communicative structures within specific nerd communities, providing a nuanced understanding of how everyday degradation occurs.
The project will proceed in three phases: defining and identifying dark nerd communities; analysing the communicative and social processes behind their toxic transformation; and testing intervention strategies to mitigate these effects. Methodologically, the project will employ a combination of computational, traditional quantitative, and in-depth qualitative methods.
By addressing toxic degradation within dark nerd communities, this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of these communities and provide insights for preserving the safety and integrity of online spaces during a critical transitional life phase. The outcomes are expected to lay the foundations for stemming the tide of toxicity and extremism within the adolescent technosphere.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology social issues social inequalities gender inequality
- social sciences sociology ideologies
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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48149 Muenster
Germany
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