Technological seduction and self-radicalization

Journal article

Alfano, Mark, Carter, J.Adam and Cheong, Marc. (2018). Technological seduction and self-radicalization. Journal of the American Philosophical Association. 4(3), pp. 298-322. https://doi.org/10.1017/apa.2018.27

Publication dates
Authors	Alfano, Mark, Carter, J.Adam and Cheong, Marc
Abstract	Many scholars agree that the Internet plays a pivotal role in self-radicalization, which can lead to behaviors ranging from lone-wolf terrorism to participation in white nationalist rallies to mundane bigotry and voting for extremist candidates. However, the mechanisms by which the Internet facilitates self-radicalization are disputed; some fault the individuals who end up self-radicalized, while others lay the blame on the technology itself. In this paper, we explore the role played by technological design decisions in online self-radicalization in its myriad guises, encompassing extreme as well as more mundane forms. We begin by characterizing the phenomenon of technological seduction. Next, we distinguish between top-down seduction and bottom-up seduction. We then situate both forms of technological seduction within the theoretical model of dynamical systems theory. We conclude by articulating strategies for combating online self-radicalization.
Keywords	technological seduction; virtue epistemology; digital humanities; dynamical systems theory; philosophy of technology; nudge
Year	2018
Journal	Journal of the American Philosophical Association
Journal citation	4 (3), pp. 298-322
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
ISSN	2053-4477
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1017/apa.2018.27
Scopus EID	2-s2.0-85059941295
Research or scholarly	Research
Page range	298-322
Publisher's version	License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled
Output status	Published
Online	2018
Publication process dates
Deposited	06 Sep 2021

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