ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the online community of ISIS supporters from the point of view of subculture and bonding practices with a purpose to show how shared online space and cultural artefacts (such as in-jokes, similar style of profile pictures, the use of their own language/slang, among others) further strengthen people’s newly acquired (“upgraded”) identities. The chapter examines several elements of subculture such as profile pictures, the use of slang, specific style of accounts’ names, jokes, and topics that are discussed in the community to show how this also creates a feeling of being special, as the secretive nature of the community acquires an air of elitism and being privileged.
