Inside Young Columbia: The Rise of White Nationalist Youth Clubs in the U.S.
A series of photos featuring two young women on a hike in Wisconsin gained attention on Telegram in May. The photos, intentionally obscured to hide their identities, depict the girls as members of a newly formed white nationalist youth group for girls in the U.S. The group, known as Young Columbia, is an offshoot of United Youth, an organization that oversees white nationalist Youth Clubs for young men across the country. Young Columbia was established in response to high demand and has specific membership criteria of being of white European descent, female, and nationalist.
The formation of Youth Clubs began in February 2025 and has rapidly expanded to all 50 states within a short period. The rise of white nationalist ideology among Gen Z is attributed to factors such as a sense of loss of control, cynicism about the country's state post-COVID-19 pandemic, and the appeal of extremist content online. Young Columbia, like other Youth Clubs, utilizes social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram for recruitment, targeting teenagers with content that emphasizes traditional values, femininity, and teenage angst.
The male Youth Club members engage in physical activities, disseminate white nationalist propaganda, and provide a space for a specific kind of masculinity. They believe in defending the future of the white race, which they perceive as under attack. The mission of the women's group, Young Columbia, is less clear, but members have been observed distributing propaganda and meeting with male Youth Club members in Wisconsin and Illinois. The group's content incorporates symbolism associated with white supremacy and has been criticized for promoting hate speech and hateful ideologies.
The TikTok account associated with Young Columbia was banned from the platform for violating community guidelines that prohibit hate speech and the promotion of hateful ideologies. Social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram have policies against content that incites violence or promotes hate. Experts are skeptical about the independence of United Youth and suspect ties to the Active Club network, which is linked to white nationalist ideologies. The involvement of adult members in training sessions with Youth Clubs raises questions about the origins and motives behind these youth groups.