All incidents

Caleb Cain's Radicalization via YouTube's Algorithm

Jun 1, 2019Martinsburg, W.Va.1 source

Summary

A 26-year-old man from West Virginia, Caleb Cain, was radicalized by far-right content on YouTube over several years. He described how the platform's recommendation algorithm exposed him to extremist ideologies, including white supremacy and anti-feminism. The incident highlights concerns about algorithmic amplification of harmful content on YouTube.

Incident Details

Domain
Misinfo & Disinfo

Deliberate or negligent spread of false or misleading information with harmful real-world effects.

Harm Types
Algorithmic Amplification
Misinformation

False or misleading content spread without intent to deceive.

Disinformation

Deliberately fabricated content intended to mislead.

Platforms
Companies

Who Was Affected

Age
Young Adult
Gender
Male