Digital Mob
A collective of individuals on digital platforms who coordinate—loosely or explicitly—to target a person, group, or idea with harassment, dogpiling, cancellation, or doxxing. Unlike a physical mob, a digital mob operates through screens, using replies, quote tweets, DMs, and reports to overwhelm a target. Its power comes from numbers, speed, and the amplification algorithms of social media. Digital mobs can form around a hashtag, a viral post, or a call-out, often within hours. They may lack a central leader, but they develop shared rituals (screenshots, pile-ons, mockery) and enforce internal norms (any dissent is betrayal). The digital mob is the primary weapon of cancel culture, online harassment campaigns, and viral outrage.
Example: “Within six hours of the post, a digital mob had dug up her old tweets, sent hundreds of death threats, and contacted her employer. She had no chance to explain.”
Digital Mob by Abzugal April 3, 2026