@whknott Holy shit! Is that why? I live in Arizona, so I'm not too familiar with the area, but I was driving through there 10 years ago with a freakin' RV and it's impossible to get around anywhere there in one of those.

I should've known. Motherfuckers. I knew a LOT of transit and highways are the way they are because racism, but I still learn more.

@wendinoakland

Black kids are online *a lot* more than white kids.

And yet, most Black boys think Tate is a loser, and that his fans are even bigger losers. Before the news became common knowledge, I explained what most Black men think of Tate. (CW: Discussion of Tate. It's bad. You really don't have to read this.
hachyderm.io/@mekkaokereke/109… )

The NY Times' trash crime coverage, and copaganda shows like "Law and Order" have done much more to encourage racism in these kids than social media has.

@wendinoakland The algorithm shows different kids different stuff.

IMO, the tell in the original story is the dieting. That's always been a really niche idea, but selling diet pills to healthy people is literally the business of right-wing radio.

@tob @wendinoakland

You don't think Black kids and girls of all races get shown Tate videos too? They do. The difference is who responds to it, likes it, searches for more, favorites, shares, comments positively on, Tate videos. I'll tell you who: losers that hate women and girls.

Recommendation systems don't magically know what you like before you've interacted.

The whole fitness industry sells stuff! But again, not everyone sporty goes fash. It's not fitness, or sports, or masculinity.

@wendinoakland I think you're being too reductive. These kids don't start out fascist.

I'm not trying to give them excuses. They are making conscious choices based on the media that's presented to them.

If we get out of this, we're going to have to seriously grapple with the challenge to society of giving anyone with an internet connection unfettered access to our brains.