A Guardian investigation has exposed the 764 network, part of a growing online ecosystem that coerces young people into committing acts of violence and self-harm, with cases documented across dozens of countries.
Key facts
- The 764 network is part of a wider online ecosystem that encourages and glorifies violence and degradation.
- In late 2024, a 14-year-old boy stabbed an elderly man three times in a suburb of Stockholm, and the attack was streamed online.
- Researcher Marc-André Argentino describes the phenomenon as the 'gamification of harm.'
- The network has perpetrators and victims in dozens of countries.
A growing online network known as 764 is pushing young members into committing brutal and degrading acts, according to an investigation published by the Guardian. The network is described as just one part of a larger online ecosystem that actively encourages and glorifies violence and self-harm, drawing in both perpetrators and victims across dozens of countries.
The Guardian reported that in late 2024, in a quiet suburb of Stockholm, a 14-year-old boy approached a man in his 80s who was using a walker and stabbed him three times in the back. The attack, which took place in Hässelby, was streamed online and spread quickly.
According to the Guardian, that incident fed into a global online ecosystem that promotes acts of violence and degradation. The report frames the attack as an example of how such networks operate and how their content circulates rapidly online.
The researcher Marc-André Argentino, cited in the investigation, characterises the phenomenon as the ‘gamification of harm.’ The phrase points to the way these networks appear to reward or incentivise increasingly extreme behaviour among young members.
The Guardian’s reporting indicates the reach of the network is international, with those involved located in many different countries. This cross-border dimension underscores the challenge of identifying, tracking and stopping the activity described in the investigation.
Why it matters
The investigation highlights how online networks can manipulate and coerce vulnerable young people into committing serious acts of violence and self-harm. Because the ecosystem spans dozens of countries, it presents complex challenges for parents, safeguarding services and law enforcement worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 764 network?
According to the Guardian, the 764 network is part of a growing online ecosystem that pushes young members into brutal and degrading acts, and actively encourages and glorifies violence and self-harm. It has perpetrators and victims in dozens of countries.
What happened in Stockholm in late 2024?
The Guardian reported that a 14-year-old boy approached a man in his 80s who was using a walker in the Hässelby suburb and stabbed him three times in the back. The video of the attack was streamed and spread quickly.
What does 'gamification of harm' mean?
The phrase is used by researcher Marc-André Argentino, as cited in the Guardian investigation, to describe how this online ecosystem encourages and glorifies acts of violence and degradation among young people.