[ggm]

This last 2 year window has been particularly frustrating for young people and blaming "others" is frequent in these situations. I think externalising things to an out-group is just human nature (which of course needs to be confronted and denied)

Normally, it would be a minority who were in the position of the extent of time we're spending online, in discussions. More people in the space, more opportunity for pervasive negative messages, and racist/extremist messages to do their insidious work.

Why to they find it engaging and persuasive? because its recruiting, and so they get responses which are positive feedback. And, it provides an "unimpeachable" blame for the problem state young minds find themselves in: its those other people. Not you: you're one of us.