""Why do I feel this rage?" Holly wore a shirt emblazoned with "WRATH." This was not a fashion statement; it was a was a sign of his inner turmoil. For teens drowning in anger they don't understand, extremist sites offer something invaluable: an explanation. Your rage isn't a personal failing; it's a righteous response to an unjust world. It's not your fault; it's theirs."
""Am I the only one?" Fellow students described Holly as invisible: neither good nor bad, just unnoticed. For isolated teens convinced they're fundamentally different, finding others with similar darkness provides profound relief and a sense of belonging. The message isn't "become violent." It's "you're not alone in these feelings." "How can I matter?" Most school shooters share one characteristic: a desperate need for signif"
Troubled teenagers deliberately search violent and extremist websites rather than encountering them accidentally. Extremist sites provide answers to unexpressed questions about rage, identity, belonging, and significance. These sites reframe anger as a righteous response to injustice, offer communities that validate isolation, and promise a path to importance for invisible youth. Search behavior often reflects preexisting fantasies about violence rather than curiosity about tactics. Media focus on where teens went online can miss the underlying psychological needs driving searches. Preventive responses should prioritize addressing isolation, unmet psychological needs, and pathways to belong before online content alone.
Read at Psychology Today
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