Young guns: Understanding a new generation of extremist radicalization in the United States

The report examines how extremist radicalization in the US is shifting toward a 'post-organizational' model, where Generation Z is increasingly influenced by decentralized online networks rather than formal groups. It highlights the 'hybridization' of ideologies, where boundaries between different extremist movements blur, and identifies key threats from white supremacy, accelerationism, anti-government movements, Salafi-jihadism, the 'manosphere', and violent conspiracy theories. The authors emphasize the critical role of social media and gaming platforms in facilitating this process and call for updated prevention strategies that involve young people in their design.

• The landscape of youth radicalization is shifting toward 'post-organizational' dynamics, characterized by a decrease in formal group membership and an increase in lone actors. Data from the PIRUS dataset indicates that the number of radicalized young people under 30 with no formal ties to extremist groups has increased by 311% over the last 10 years compared to the previous 50 years, with 54.1% of radicalized youth in the US not belonging to formal groups.
• Extremist ideologies are becoming increasingly 'hybridized' and fluid, particularly among Generation Z. This involves a blurring of lines between previously oppositional groups, such as white supremacists adopting Islamic State tactics or Salafi-jihadists using the aesthetics of the extreme right. An example is the 'Islamogram' community, which merges Salafi ideas with the visual culture and humor of youth-oriented extreme right movements.
• Digital platforms are central to modern radicalization, with a 413% rise in the internet playing the primary role in the radicalization of those under 30 between 2010 and 2020. Extremists use a multi-platform approach to avoid moderation, utilizing mainstream sites, encrypted apps like Telegram, and gaming platforms. Specifically, an ISD analysis of white supremacist channels on Discord found that most users were minors with an average age of 15.
• Accelerationism has emerged as a significant threat among youth, advocating for violent attacks to trigger a racial civil war and societal collapse. This movement is influenced by the 'Siege' writings of James and the 'leaderless resistance' concept of Louis Beam. High-profile mass attacks in the US, including the 2015 Charleston shooting and the 2022 Buffalo supermarket attack, were fueled by these racist and antisemitic ideologies.
• The 'manosphere' and Incel communities represent a youth-oriented threat of misogynistic violence. ADL survey data suggests that 82% of self-identified Incels are aged 18–30, with 36% between 18–21. These communities often promote the 'blackpill'—a nihilistic belief in hopelessness—and overlap with right-wing extremism and white supremacy.
• There is a growing trend of mass violence driven by mixed, inconsistent, or unclear ideologies, often inspired by antisocial digital communities rather than a coherent political worldview. The July 4, 2022, Highland Park shooting is cited as a case where the perpetrator was active in 'gore forums' and nihilistic online communities that glorify violence, challenging traditional models of ideological radicalization.

APA

Jones, I., Guhl, J., Davey, J., & Ayad, M. (2023). Young guns: Understanding a new generation of extremist radicalization in the United States. Institute for Strategic Dialogue. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Young-guns_Understandings-a-new-generation-of-extremist-radicalization-in-the-United-States.pdf

Chicago

Jones, Isabel, Jakob Guhl, Jacob Davey, and Moustafa Ayad. Young guns: Understanding a new generation of extremist radicalization in the United States. Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2023. https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Young-guns_Understandings-a-new-generation-of-extremist-radicalization-in-the-United-States.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jones |first1=Isabel |last2=Guhl |first2=Jakob |last3=Davey |first3=Jacob |last4=Ayad |first4=Moustafa |title=Young guns: Understanding a new generation of extremist radicalization in the United States |publisher=Institute for Strategic Dialogue |date=2023 |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Young-guns_Understandings-a-new-generation-of-extremist-radicalization-in-the-United-States.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jones2023young, author = {Jones, Isabel and Guhl, Jakob and Davey, Jacob and Ayad, Moustafa}, title = {{Young guns: Understanding a new generation of extremist radicalization in the United States}}, institution = {Institute for Strategic Dialogue}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Young-guns_Understandings-a-new-generation-of-extremist-radicalization-in-the-United-States.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }