Methodology

Based on our preliminary research alongside research done whilst completing our literary reviews we decided that it would be most effective to measure the homogeneity (convergence) of the extreme Left to the extreme Right by individually comparing it to the level of similarity between the extreme Left to the Center and the extreme Right to the Center. Our research was conducted solely through netnography in order to analyze and categorize extreme Left, extreme Right and Centrist individuals. This was done on four different websites: Twitter (X), Reddit, 4chan, and Leftypol. We decided to analyze four different sites (instead of just one website/social media site) because of our desire to capture a more holistic view of people’s daily interactions:

Link to our spreadsheets with account data:
  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/42843725.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A3e55f64ae05cacdeb50442d9e9eb7813&ab_segments=&origin=&initiator=&acceptTC=1

    • Public Sphere: Twitter (X)

    exposure of name, face, followers, ability to track the person on multiple websites/social media sites and over a period of time

    Intermediary/Private Sphere: Reddit

    no profile picture but there are characters, some put their personal name but most are anonymous, cannot track other websites/social media sites the person is a part of but can see their posts over a period of time

    Private Sphere: 4chan and Leftypol

    no profile picture, all anonymous, cannot track any other posts of the user nor their use of other websites/social media sites

    Similarities/Differences of the Center

    After assessing several accounts, we accounted for the political position of 15 people as being center or slightly leaning (center-left). As the definition of a centrist is ‘having moderate political views and opinions’, we deducted that these 15 people were centrists because of their critical yet informative responses to online statements. They consistently presented an informative or persuasive tone, sometimes suggesting anger and criticism, but still trying to remain relatively objective and explanatory. There was variability in how long their posts were ranging from one sentence to over a 100 words but all retained good grammar despite often lacking punctuation. The majority of identified centrists posted regularly (daily). Their statements were almost always their own content, with some users reposting content, but, notably, only content they agreed with. Most, also, did not reference an individual or company except in rare cases to mention key events, vaccine companies and leaders of countries. Thus, for the most part the style and formation of posts by identified Centrists is relatively homogenous which is surprising considering the wide diaspora of people who could be considered Centrists given the vague definition of what a Centrist actually is.

    Similarities/Differences of the Extreme Right

    Establishing our focus for data extraction from specific right-wing communities, we evaluated their differences and similarities through their mood, content, and style of writing. From these criteria, we observed a distinction among the style of writing that is exposed. Extreme Right users of Reddit and X tended to use a more serious and objective tone in their writing, commenting or providing news sources, and discussing their relevance or implications. Evidently, there pertained an increased use of community jargon employed in the writing as well as inside jokes showcased through memes. These in all expressed a variety of moods, most prevalent that of a critical and proud nature. Extreme-right users in these forums tended to exploit their comparison with, most recurrently, the left in a superior and dismissing tone. Separated from this flow, 4chan, most specifically the board “Politically Incorrect” or /pol/, brings forth a starkly different approach in style and content. Here, comments were increasingly shorter, marked by its cynicism and directness. In addition, one notes the influences of the platform itself, with the presence of a specific writing style known as “greentext”, which revolves around shorter sentences placed consecutively in a vertical manner as opposed to a continuous paragraph. More slang and inside jokes are present, which work to symbolize different parts of modern society as characters. The present anonymity behind commenters and posters means that insults and racism, as well as conspiracy theories are more prevalent and extreme than in the two aforementioned counterparts. Thus, even though the extreme right is present among these different forums, a question is put forward of whether there is a spectrum within the far-right or is there a factor behind anonymity that can cause an uptick in extreme language and content. This is most exemplified by the presence of race and more specifically racial superiority in the discussion, whereas it is rarely seen in X and Reddit, it takes a protagonist role in /pol/, with both serious and unserious discussions employing it ceaselessly.

    Categorization

    Our categories are made to distinguish between similarities and differences of behaviors of users/individuals within the three political groups and between the three political groups.

    We analyzed 15 people/users from each group to achieve as much accuracy as possible in our categorization of groups and comparison of groups.

    Formatting and Style: Capital letters, punctuation, typos, jargon, profanity, grammar, type of publication (eg. Meme, Poster, etc.)

    Length (measure in words)

    Mood: emotion expressed via the publication (eg. enthusiastic, angry, critical, informative, etc.)

    Frequency: very frequent (nearly every day), semi-frequent (weekly), infrequent (once a month or less)

    Number of Followers

    Own Content or Re-used Content

    Referencing a Famous Individual/Political Party

    Website Name

    Topic

    Country/Nation of the User/Individual

    Name of the User

    Famous/Infamous User/Individual

    Extreme Right -vs- the Center

    In establishing a direct comparison between our data collected from center and extreme right wing commenters and posters, stark differences arise in the content published and in the manner in which it is spoken about. In observing reddit centrist, discussion posts tended to revolve around cited newsource, under which comments were posted in context to the content of the original post. Thus, one notes a frequent use of data in discussions as well as the exposure of personal opinions through a collected manner. Comments tend to be written with proper grammar and a trend of longer, more thought-of paragraphs are appreciated. In addition, one notes the diversity in moods found throughout the comments. largely, one can note a trend of serious and critical approaches in their dialogue with other more humorous or sarcastic tones being present as well. Evaluating this side by side with the extreme right wing, quick differences arise. Firstly, data content becomes more erratic, depending on the online platform that one evaluates from. One finds that comments revolve less around discussion around the original post specifically, with references to universal truths, which the original posts proves. Language changes dramatically, with jargon becoming commonplace, accompanied with images specific to their communities in symbolism. The presence of pride marks a stark contrast with the content found in center-leaning comments, the right wing references “opposing” groups repeatedly, be it the left, race, specific political opponents or other socio-economic classifications. Finally, a more structural difference is noted in the terms of service of their respective platforms, with extreme right wing online communities largely converging on forums which lack effective and platform-wide moderation, providing them with a large and unseen, apart of the small corners of the far-left, degree of online autonomy along the political spectrum

    Extreme Right -vs- Extreme Left

    When comparing the platforms Leftypol and 4chan, drawing comparisons on the kinds of posts is relatively straightforward. We can see that the content’s mood is often similar, filled with anger and enthusiasm, and largely critical of the government, despite the fact that the substance itself is starkly different. To draw conclusions on the similarities and differences between these two political opinions, it is worth first commenting on the websites Leftypol and 4chan. We observe that in both sites, users often expressed anger or excitement (generally strong emotions), they also used niche vocabulary to describe political opponents. For example, the word “libtard” can be seen in both platforms referring to liberals. Users in both sites also expressed dissatisfaction with the government and mainstream media. There was also a glorification of violence in some of the posts on both sites. However, the specific content is greatly different. While the ultra left platform has an article in its “constitution” explicitly stating that identity politics (racism, anti-semitism, xenophobia…) is not permitted, this content is very present on the far right platform. Studying right wing accounts on Reddit presented another challenge mainly due to the fact that Reddit was overwhelmingly left wing. Communities like “r/conservative” or “r/fascism” did not so content as reactionary and extreme as 4chan. They seemed to focus on glorifying Trump than Hitler. Therefore, we cannot consider the right and left to truly converge at the extremes in terms of substance, but more in terms of general mood and anti-establishment sentiment.

    Extreme Left -vs- the Center

    X: public sphere

    In analyzing the behavior of users on platform X as a public sphere, distinct patterns emerge between the ultra-left and the center. Both groups, despite their ideological differences, exhibit similarities and differences in various categories. In terms of ‘Formatting and Style’, both the ultra-left, represented by accounts like Philippe Putou, and the center, with figures like Bernie Sanders, display a commitment to clear communication, evident in their correct grammar and effective use of language. Interestingly, while the center often employs persuasive and original video content, the ultra-left tends to rely more on well-constructed written posts and critical responses to other X users. Regarding ‘Activity’, both sides are prolific in posting, but the ultra-left leans towards more regular but shorter posts compared to the center's longer, less frequent updates. In the category of Content, the ultra-left engages prominently with left-wing movements, while the center, exemplified by Greta Thunberg and Emmanuel Macron, maintains a broader focus, often centered around environmental issues or political actions. Notably, when examining ‘Followers’, the center attracts a more significant following, however this could be due to the presence of more famous centrists on the platform compared to the extreme left. The comparison suggests that, while both the ultra-left and the center share some commonalities in communication style and activity, differences in content focus and follower dynamics underscore the nuances within and between these political orientations in the public sphere of platform X.

    Reddit: semi-private sphere

    In the semi-private sphere of Reddit, a comparison between the center and the ultra-left reveals notable trends in online behavior. Examining formatting and style, the center tends to utilize lower case letters, occasional swearing, and short, direct sentences, reflecting an expressive and sometimes critical tone. On the other hand, the ultra-left frequently adopts assertive and emotive language, employing condemnation and strong disdain, often with longer posts providing personal accounts and stories. Regarding post length, the center generally leans towards shorter, one-sentence expressions, contributing to a stern and serious mood. In contrast, the ultra-left tends to present lengthier posts, sometimes exceeding 100 words, reflecting a more detailed and emotional discourse. In terms of activity, the center exhibits semi-frequent posting but actively engages through regular comments, maintaining a steady presence. Conversely, the ultra-left is characterized by regular commenting and less frequent posting, emphasizing a preference for ongoing discussions over standalone contributions.

    → should be noted: When examining Reddit as a semi-private sphere we were able to track accounts and their frequency of posts and identify patterns within the account’s history in formatting style along other specific categories. However, one notable limitation within this sphere lies in the challenges of obtaining comprehensive personal information. A significant number of personal categories, such as specific demographics, follower counts, and detailed individual characteristics, are marked as 'n/a' due to the inherent privacy and anonymity maintained by users on the platform. This lack of accessible personal data restricts the depth of analysis and understanding of the participants, emphasizing the elusive nature of individual identities within the semi-private realm of Reddit. When examining Reddit as a semi-private sphere we were able to track accounts and their frequency of posts and identify patterns within the account’s history in formatting style along other specific categories. However, one notable limitation within this sphere lies in the challenges of obtaining comprehensive personal information. A significant number of personal categories, such as specific demographics, follower counts, and detailed individual characteristics, are marked as 'n/a' due to the inherent privacy and anonymity maintained by users on the platform. This lack of accessible personal data restricts the depth of analysis and understanding of the participants, emphasizing the elusive nature of individual identities within the semi-private realm of Reddit.

    LeftypolI: private sphere

    Analyzing user behavior on the private sphere of the extreme left on the platform LeftyPolI reveals distinctive characteristics. In Formatting and Style, these users generally employ lower case letters, good punctuation, and occasionally utilize inflammatory language and niche jargon. A noticeable trend is the use of various jargon terms to describe different ideological or political groups, indicating a specific vernacular within the ultra-left community. The Length of posts varies, with some users favoring concise statements while others produce lengthier content. The overall Mood of posts tends to be enthusiastic, angry, informative, or critical, reflecting the diverse emotional tones within the ultra-left discussions. In terms of Activity, posting frequency ranges from semi-frequent to very frequent, with some users posting almost daily. Given the anonymous nature of these accounts some categories we analysed were less relevant such as follower count, nationality and specificity of characteristics of the individual. Concerning content type, users contribute a mixture of their own content and reposts or responses to others, with majority in response. There are instances where they make references to specific individuals, either supporting or criticizing them, revealing a connection between the ultra-left and public figures such as political speakers or activists. In essence, the private sphere of the ultra-left on LeftyPolI demonstrates a nuanced and diverse landscape, with users engaging in expressive, sometimes inflammatory, discussions while maintaining a level of anonymity.

    → it shall be said that: As the majority of these accounts remain anonymous and are consequently untraceable, their viewpoints within the platform are shaped in isolation. Consequently, we must infer their extreme-left orientation based on a singular political opinion or comment related to specific topics, which in our investigation ranged most commonly around the following, but not limited to: US politics, the Israel-Palestine conflict, religion, Al-Aqsa flood, socialism/communism, liberal politics, communist China, and the war in Ukraine.

    Limitations

    General Limitations of Methodology:

    Nuances

    Political Climate and Celebrity Engagement

    Conclusion

    We conclude that, especially in the current political climate, simply looking at the construction of a comment or post, one can deduct the ideological influences that are held within. From the mood present, to style choices, and the inclusion of specific jargon and references, users, in effect, reflect their beliefs through their online interactions. Resurfacing the question of the horseshoe theory and a hypothetical close similarity between the extreme corners of the right and the left, we deduce that this is present. From using specific forums that exclude them from the general flow of discussion, users pertaining to these extreme ideologies generally interact among themselves, forming their own channels of diffusion and communication. From this, a general style is developed, marked by its short and generally parallel emotions. In effect, we confirm the academic limitations of the field - establishing the few ties that both extremist ranks have in terms of values. Yet, there is a resemblance present in their use of emotions, raging from anger to superiority which mark their discussions. In addition, there is a continuous presence of the “other” in their posts, with both corners alluding to the other extreme almost periodically. In essence, although extremely different ideologies, extremism manifests itself through similar methods, leaving the debate open about whether extremism is a separate movement that detached itself from the political axis.

    Sources/Credit