Understanding far-right communities on alternative platforms: Jonathan Collins on his PhD research
On Tuesday 30 September 2025, PhD candidate Jonathan Collins will defend his dissertation A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Far-Right Alt-Tech Social Media Movement in Leiden’s Academy Building. His work examines the communication dynamics of far-right communities on alternative social media platforms, known collectively as ‘Alt-Tech.’
Beyond the hate-filled discourse
When Collins started his PhD, most research on far-right digital spaces focused on the hateful content circulating within them. He wanted to take a different approach. ‘Alt-Tech platforms created a breakaway online ecosystem where users can say and do what they want. While most research was focused on the hate-filled discourses coming out of these environments, I was more interested in what kept users attached and engaged. Across the thesis, I unpacked and operationalised concepts like belonging, emotion, collectivity, and identity for a “softer” look at the phenomenon.’
This shift in perspective allowed him to highlight the community-defining aspects that help these spaces thrive. Far-right communities are not only held together by ideology or anger, but also by social bonds, everyday interactions, and a sense of shared identity.
A mix of morbid curiosity and social responsibility
Collins’ motivation to pursue this research combines fascination with a drive to contribute to positive change. ‘I’ve always been fascinated by far-right communications because of the sheer diversity of (terrible) content. I’ve looked at everything from outlandish conspiracy theories to neo-Nazis seeking community support for a friend going through hard times. There are so many angles to explore within this milieu, which I hope can provide fresh lenses on how to actually address the hate-filled narratives stemming from these spaces. I’d say I’m driven by both a morbid curiosity and a genuine desire to make society just a little bit better.’
Towards intimacy and depth
One of Collins’ central ambitions is to shift how research approaches far-right online spaces. ‘I hope my work can contribute on two fronts: shifting the epistemological focus, and developing novel methodological techniques. For the first, I think research needs to move beyond simply analysing extreme content and instead focus more on the people producing and interacting with it. It’s more resource-intensive, but if we only observe the surface, I think we miss the point. We’re trying to understand people after all.’
Methodologically, Collins experimented with immersive research practices to capture community dynamics more effectively. ‘Together, these efforts amount to a push for greater intimacy and a deeper understanding of participants within alt-tech and far-right online spaces.’
Building communities in academia
Looking back on his PhD journey, Collins emphasises the importance of connection. ‘For me, the best part of academia is working with friends and building communities. Putting together projects and seeing them succeed is where I feel most fulfilled, and I’m really looking forward to building a wide network of colleagues to explore the ins and outs of online extremism. If you want to succeed in your PhD, my advice would be to make sure you have that support network — whether academic or not.’
Looking ahead
After the defence, Collins will continue his research on Alt-Tech platforms as part of a new project called Research in Societal Extremism (RISE). Together with colleagues and friends, he examines the two-way relationship between society and extremism. ‘We’re aiming to unpack the mechanisms that not only connect mainstream with radical movements but also link extreme groups to one another, a phenomenon we’ve recently started calling ‘salad bar extremism’ or ‘mixed, unclear, and unstable ideology.’’
His defence will take place on 30 September 2025 at the Academy Building, under the supervision of Prof. dr. J.J.M. van Holsteijn, dr. V. Tsagkroni, and dr. B. Rezaeedaryakenari.