At the 6th Bergen International Conference on Forensic Mental Health, Professor Atte Oksanen presented his keynote, “Digital Pathways to Violence: Youth, Fascination with Violence, and Online Influence.” The talk examined how contemporary digital environments are transforming the ways young people encounter and engage with violent ideas.
Drawing on long-term research on school shootings, cyberhate, and extremist online communities, Oksanen highlighted how fascination with violence can become embedded in identity formation, cultural scripts, and online group dynamics. The keynote also explored recent developments in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, demonstrating the increasing sophistication of online communities in shaping norms, identities, and behaviours among youth.
Importantly, the presentation connected these insights to broader European threat assessments, emphasising how digital cultures can normalise extreme content, lower thresholds for participation, and expose vulnerable individuals to manipulation and exploitation. Understanding these mechanisms, Oksanen argued, is essential for improving prevention strategies, enabling early identification of risks, and strengthening resilience among young people in the digital age.
More info on the conference: https://bergenconference.no/