Psychologist warns of digital extremism risks in online gaming

Psychologist and academic Putri Langka has advised parents to use dialogic approaches to protect children and adolescents from digital extremism. As online gaming and social media become essential ecosystems for social identity and peer validation, these virtual spaces can be exploited by radical groups and extremist networks.

Langaka, an academic from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Pancasila, noted that the recruitment process is often subtle. Extremist actors may build trust through consistent interaction, emotional support, praise, or even gifts to create a sense of obligation. Because adolescents are in a phase of identity seeking and often prioritize peer validation over parental guidance, they are particularly vulnerable to these manipulative emotional connections.