tech
Meet ‘Amelia’: the AI-generated British schoolgirl who is a far-right social media star
The avatar, created to deter young people from extremism, has been subverted and is breaking out of niche online silos
TL;DR
- Amelia, an AI-generated British schoolgirl with purple hair, has become a viral meme online, often associated with racist and far-right messaging.
- The character originated from 'Pathways: Navigating the Internet and Extremism,' a UK Home Office-funded game designed to deter young people from far-right extremism.
- Social media users, particularly on X, have used AI tools to create numerous Amelia memes, depicting her with anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric.
- The meme's spread has been rapid, with a significant increase in daily posts and its expansion to international audiences.
- An Amelia cryptocurrency has emerged, with creators of the original game highlighting the 'monetisation of hate.'
- The creators of the game expressed surprise at the meme's subversion and the sophisticated coordination behind its spread, raising concerns about safety.
- Analysts note the meme's proliferation among the far-right and its international reach, appealing to a 'dissident' far-right ecosystem and young men through sexualised imagery.
- The Home Office stated that Prevent programs aim to divert people from violent ideologies and that projects like the Pathways game are created and delivered independently of the government.