The interaction between the producer and the consumer: the alt-right on Reddit and YouTube during the US Presidential Election 2020

YouTube has been demonstrated to be a pipeline of extremism, funneling viewers towards the far right through a combination of algorithms, platforms norms, and presenter practices. The platform has become central to the establishment of the alt-intellectual network of political influencers that push a far right worldview. However, such research tends to focus on the presenters themselves, or within-platform social network analysis. This paper shifts the focus to the discursive interaction with the receptive audience, here identified as the fan communities on Reddit. These subreddits actively consume and discuss content from specific presenters such as r/BenShapiro, r/TimPool, but it is unknown how the users then disseminate these constructions within Reddit. Using an inter- and intra-platform discursive analysis in conjunction with SNA, this paper offers an understanding of the interaction between the YouTube pipeline and the receptive audience. By focusing on the construction of identity and ideology, it elaborates on the mainstreaming of far right ideas. With a focus on the US Presidential Election 2020, key themes include claims of election interference, #StopTheSteal, and the Supreme Court nomination. This paper offers an understanding of inter- and intra-platform discursive influence and flows, reflecting on the interconnected nature of the networked internet. It will compare against the general conservative subreddit to interrogate the significance of alt-right thought leaders and community construction of understanding.