Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve Hassan Online Radicalization with Data Scientist Dr. Stuart Shulman
Feb 26, 2024
Dr. Stuart Shulman, a data scientist and CEO of Texifter, dives into the murky waters of online radicalization. He reveals how Twitter fuels movements like QAnon and explores the alarming presence of foreign influence in Canadian politics. Shulman discusses the dangerous blend of real and fake users in shaping narratives and the prevalence of anti-vaccine content among extremist groups. He warns of the risks posed by unregulated AI in the digital landscape and emphasizes the importance of civic engagement to combat disinformation.
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Social Media As First-Draft History
- Stuart Shulman frames his work as “data storyteller” and contemporary historian, using social media traces as first-draft history.
- He studies how compelling, often false narratives on platforms draw attention and participation beyond facts.
Finding QAnon Through Canadian Election Data
- Stuart discovered QAnon while tracking U.S.-style accounts engaging in Canadian politics and noticed Q buzzwords in bios.
- He found a mix of genuine global admirers of Russia and possible Russian amplifiers in the network.
Not All Actors Are State Operatives
- Shulman found a transnational affinity group: authentic people worldwide who share pro-Russia and nationalist views.
- He cautions against assuming all activity is state-directed; many actors are ideologically aligned.
