Image boards like 4chan are almost entirely free from adtech engagement optimization, so no. This is who we are when we are given a place to air our petty grievances with no accountability to prior postings.

I don’t think so.

We’ve had atrocities and violence throughout history. Usually in the context of war, but not always. Usually localized, but sometimes large scale. Sometimes condemned and opposed by the rest of society (whether it is a village, country, or continent), sometimes hushed and hidden away, sometimes openly supported.

The impulses and thoughts behind it have always been there, but limited and moderated by geography, time, and social norms.

Now for the first time(?), those limits are starting to blur out and disappear on a global scale. And the impulses and thoughts are visible in their raw form.

This is who we are.

4chan is not optimised for engagement, it's one of the most basic messageboards.