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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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
Funding Scheme
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.
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
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
48149 Muenster
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.