Taking up the tiki torch: Understanding alt-right interest using internet search data

Area of Science:

• Social Science
• Political Science
• Internet Studies

Background:

• The alt-right is a white supremacist movement with an online presence.
• Previous research indicated participants often stem from working-class backgrounds.
• The movement's leadership claims to attract affluent, college-educated professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically study the broader constituency of the alt-right.
• To examine predictors of county-level internet search volume for alt-right content.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of county-level internet search data.
• Correlation analysis between search volume and demographic/socioeconomic factors.

Main Results:

• Higher percentages of college graduates correlated with increased alt-right search volume.
• Presence of highly educated non-white and immigrant groups also correlated with higher search volume.
• Higher poverty levels among college graduates were associated with increased search interest.

Conclusions:

• The alt-right appears to appeal to college-educated individuals, particularly white individuals, experiencing perceived economic and social status threats.
• Findings challenge the notion that the movement solely appeals to the affluent, suggesting a complex socioeconomic and demographic appeal.
• Internet search data provides insights into the geographic and demographic reach of extremist movements.