A new wave of violent offenders, known as “0 to 100” killers, is emerging, with individuals moving directly from consuming extreme online content to committing real-world murders, experts have warned.
Criminal justice specialists are calling for a counter-terrorism-inspired approach to identify and manage these offenders, who often have no prior convictions but become radicalized through violent online content.
Online Radicalization and the Rise of ‘0 to 100’ Killers
Jonathan Hall, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, has described these offenders as a “new threat cohort”—individuals who become radicalized online, often isolated young men, with neurodivergent traits and obsessive behavior patterns.
“This behavior couldn’t have existed without the internet because it is the source of the idea that certain types of violence are the solution,” Hall explained.
He is currently preparing a Home Office report examining whether mass-casualty attack planning should be classified as terrorism.
Social Media’s Role in Normalizing Extreme Violence
Professor David Wilson, a criminologist at Birmingham City University, argues that the internet has created an entirely new form of radicalization, more immersive than violent films or video games.
Social media algorithms push users toward increasingly extreme content, including beheading and torture videos, leading some individuals to skip the usual escalation of criminal behavior and go straight to murder.
“For the past five years, I’ve asked 300 criminology students if they’ve seen a beheading video online. Every single one of them has,” Wilson revealed.
This trend is compounded by societal issues, including cuts to youth services and mental health resources, which leave vulnerable individuals without proper intervention.
How ‘Mixed Ideology’ and Online Communities Fuel Violence
Experts warn that these new killers are often influenced by a mix of extremist ideologies, including:
• Incel culture (involuntary celibates promoting misogyny and violence)
• Alt-right propaganda
• Mass-killing manifestos shared online
These ideologies, combined with obsessive online behavior, create a high-risk environment for certain individuals.
Calls for a Prevent-Style Intervention System
Criminal lawyer Greg Stewart argues that traditional youth justice programs are failing to detect these offenders early, as they do not follow the typical path of escalating criminal behavior.
He suggests a Prevent-style intervention—similar to the anti-terrorism strategy used in schools—where teachers and university lecturers are trained to identify concerning behavioral patterns.
“The escalator approach to youth crime is broken. We need to recognize when a child’s online habits signal a potential risk,” Stewart said.
Online Safety Act: Are Current Protections Enough?
Experts also warn that current online safety regulations may not go far enough in preventing children from being exposed to extreme violence.
Julia Davidson, a professor of criminal justice, said online platforms need to take greater responsibility, as young people often feel pressured to watch violent content as part of social belonging tests.
Almudena Lara, Ofcom’s policy director for child safety, acknowledged the “perfect storm” of violent, misogynistic, and hate-fueled content being pushed to young audiences.
“Platforms must ensure they are not proactively pushing violent content to children,” she said, adding that complete elimination of harmful content is not yet possible, but minimizing its impact is critical.
Regulation vs. Freedom of Speech
Legal expert Prof. Lorna Woods warns that self-regulation by tech platforms is not enough, and governments must push for stronger safety measures by design rather than relying on content takedowns.
As experts continue to analyze the link between online violence and real-world crime, the debate over how to regulate violent content while preserving free speech is becoming increasingly urgent.
