From Governance Grievance to White Nationalism: A Study of Anti-Moderation Subreddits

Abstract

Reddit communities like r/DeclineIntoCensorship and r/WatchRedditDie have emerged out of rejection of the platform’s moderation policies. We find that these groups frequently exhibit white nationalist ideologies, often independent of critiques of Reddit governance. Using both qualitative and quantitative analysis of highly-engaged posts and comments, our research investigates why governance venues are prominent sites of racism. We find that, first, being aggrieved over speech restrictions creates an environment where other grievances can flourish. Second, governance grievance participants reject the restricting individual freedom to benefit others, seeing themselves as victims of such restrictions. The combination of these grievances is why resistance to platform governance is a conducive space for spreading racial grievance.