AI-assisted summary
15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, responsible for the Abundant Life Christian School shooting, was deeply involved in online extremist communities.
Experts suggest social media plays a significant role in radicalizing vulnerable youth, exposing them to hateful content and extremist ideologies.
Rupnow idolized previous school shooters and sought a sense of belonging within these online groups.
The rise of online communities allows young people to bypass traditional gatekeepers and connect with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.
On Aug. 12, 2024, a video appeared in a chat on the messaging app Telegram. In the video, a man wearing a skull mask and military goggles mounts a camera to his chest and displays his artillery. Then the man walks