this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2025
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Online ‘Pedophile Hunters’ Are Growing More Violent — and Going Viral: With the rise of loosely moderated social media platforms, a fringe vigilante movement is experiencing a dangerous evolution. (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 5 days ago by Tea@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] tumbleweed@feddit.org 105 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Pedophile hunting is among several vigilante movements in the United States. Groups in the South try to catch alleged drug smugglers at the border; others monitor local crime. The new wave of pedophile hunters stands out for adopting the social media influencer model, using real-life violence to build a following online.

This is about clout chasing and being violent monsters

[–] JayGray91@lemmy.zip 31 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

They can deflect doubt because they are hunting pedophiles.

"You wouldn't defend a pedophile now, would you?" - clout chasing violence monger

[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

And if you haven't found any pedophiles yet, well, I guess you're not trying hard enough. Or maybe... you are one of them... 😠

Can't believe this needs an /s

[–] Red_October@lemmy.world 23 points 5 days ago

And if anyone calls them out on it, they're immediately branded as "pedophile sympathizers" if not actual pedophiles themselves. So, not only do they get to be violent monsters, saying that they shouldn't commit horrible violence without any sort of legal oversight (or at all, really) makes YOU the bad guy!