Studying the types of messages hate groups spew online helps researchers understand the groups’ persistence Published May 8, 2026 6:00AM (EDT) Christopher “Hammer” Pohlhaus leads a rally with neo-Nazi groups Blood Tribe, and Goyim Defense League on September 2, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. An event touted as the "Red Shirts March" and a show of unity for Neo-Nazis attracted about 100 people to participate. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) This article was originally published on The Conversation . Hate communities often flourish online for years, raising the question of how they persist. My research team has found that powerful stories keep members of a hate group galvanized, either by repeating the story over and over or by constantly adding fresh accusations and interpretations to it. I’m a computational social scientist who studies social and political networks.…