Understanding the Video Content:
Structure and Techniques: These videos borrow the format of familiar genres like vlogs and documentaries. They typically start with an introduction, then transition to presenting "evidence" – often shaky, real-time footage captured by the person experiencing gangstalking. The conclusion might be absent, leaving viewers with a heightened sense of unease. Creators leverage techniques like deictic strategies to focus viewers' attention on specific details in the footage, potentially amplifying their interpretation of these details as proof of gangstalking. The narration, text overlays, and visuals help build a narrative reinforcing the gangstalking belief.
Building Rapport and Framing the Narrative: The videos often employ strategies to connect with viewers. Creators might address them directly using friendly language, fostering a sense of shared experience and trust. Conversely, they might depict those they believe are gangstalking them through negative language and specific camera framing, creating a sense of "us vs. them."
Important Considerations:
According to Lustig and colleagues (2021):
Focus of the Research: This research primarily analyzes how people who believe in gangstalking utilize YouTube to share their experiences. It doesn't attempt to verify the existence of gangstalking itself.
Mental Health Connection: There's a strong correlation between the creation of these videos and underlying mental health issues. The videos can manifest these struggles, and viewers who identify with the content might also be experiencing similar challenges.
Lack of Scientific Evidence: Scientific evidence is needed to support the existence of large-scale, coordinated gangstalking.
- Lustig, A., Brookes, G., & Hunt, D. (2021/10//). Social Semiotics of Gangstalking Evidence Videos on YouTube: Multimodal Discourse Analysis of a Novel Persecutory Belief System. JMIR Mental Health, 8(10)https://doi.org/10.2196/30311
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