Mini Review — ‘The Antisocial Network: Memes To Mayhem’ Is Required Viewing In Our Technological Age
by Tito W. James
The Antisocial Network: Memes To Mayhem explores the dark realities that have brought us to where we are today — a world influenced by misinformation, hate-propaganda, and misguided populism. The insightful documentary unmasks members of the hacktivist group Anonymous and tracks the influence of underground internet culture from the early days of 4Chan to QAnon and the January 6th assault on the US capital.
I distinctly remember how Anonymous were glorified during my college years. It was the closest thing we had to “masked vigilantes” in real life. So that alone made them exciting. Fantasies about superheroes and vigilantism are fun escapism on the comic book page and disastrous when those ethics are applied to reality.
I’m not the only one who’s had mixed-feeling about Geek Culture over the past decade. On the one hand, video games, anime, and comics are incredibly creative and can be enriching. However, Geek Culture consistently attracts social outcasts. The racism and sexism found in many underground communities can become weaponized when not addressed and condemned.
The Antisocial Network: Memes To Mayhem serves as a long overdue wake up call. Those who are involved in influencing Internet and popular culture should take note. Nerds have reprogrammed the world and this power needs to be used responsibly.
The Antisocial Network: Memes To Mayhem is currently streaming on Netflix.
