As of early February, at least 25 lawmakers had surpassed 100,000 subscribers, the threshold required to receive YouTube’s “silver play button.” It has become an unlikely status symbol in politics , in the country and a way to appeal to the grassroots.

Most of the lawmakers with silver play buttons are from liberal or left-leaning parties, though several conservatives have also built sizable audiences. Subscriber numbers appear to depend less on seniority and more on timing, messaging style and online engagement.

YouTube allows politicians to communicate unfiltered, respond quickly to controversies and mobilise younger voters who consume news primarily online. Lawmakers can livestream debates, post commentary and shape narratives without relying on mainstream broadcasters.

However, politicians have been cautioned that online popularity does not always reflect public support or voting .

In January 2025, a Texas man was arrested after using Roblox to issue violent extremist threats.

Authorities in Singapore and Germany have documented similar incidents. A 16-year-old in Singapore used Roblox to share pro-Islamic State propaganda, while two 12-year-olds in Germany encountered Nazi-themed content in World War II games before being lured into extremist Discord servers.

Experts say extremists use gaming environments to break down barriers: gameplay builds trust, shared interests make conversations feel harmless, and the shift to private channels happens quickly. 

For many youths, these encounters become their first exposure to radical ideas.

The problem isn’t limited to jihadist or far-right groups. Networks like the nihilistic group “764” and even Proud Boys-linked accounts have been spotted on gaming platforms, targeting very young users who may not recognise extremist symbolism.

Regulators and child-safety advocates are urging platforms to strengthen oversight. Roblox has introduced new age-tier controls and AI moderation systems, but researchers say the sheer volume of content — billions of chat messages a day — makes full monitoring nearly impossible.

Still, specialists caution against blaming the games alone. They note that young people drawn into extremist circles often feel isolated offline, making them more susceptible to belonging and validation online.