As digital communities evolve, so do the risks facing schools. Digital radicalization, Virtual Pairing, and unregulated AI technologies are influencing high-risk individuals as they evolve along the pathway to violence.

Extremist digital communities such as True Crime Communities (TCC), Watchpeopledie.tv, and The 764, along with the larger COM Network, are driven by algorithms and can normalize harmful ideologies, amplify perceived grievances, and provide further justification for High Risk and vulnerable youth (HRVY) toward real-world harm. This session examines the intersection of online radicalization, nihilistic violent extremism, artificial intelligence, and digital leakage. It will highlight the patterns, warning signs, and behavioral shifts school leaders and School Resource Officers (SROs) must recognize.

Gaming and social media platforms are also being used for sextortion, recruitment, grooming, and AI-driven “synthetic relationships,” placing High-Risk and Vulnerable Youth (HRVY) at increased risk. Participants will examine AI-generated deepfake imagery, weapon-related content, and digital manipulation, and review tools to detect AI material, address privacy violations, and respond within a school-based Safety/Threat Assessment framework. This session delivers actionable strategies to identify digital leakage, early intervention, and strengthen protective factors before digital influence translates into offline harm.