Doing research into online cults has been a bit difficult, with 764 and children of the waning star being the biggest examples that overshadow smaller accounts (the former not being religious at all), as well as spawnism. So, people of Lemmy, what are your experiences with online cults?
Edit for clarification: I am looking for cults in the traditional sense of the word: a closed off community with a distinct power structure and leader that is revered, with some sort of ideology (preferably spiritual but am open to all stories.)
I wouldn’t go that far. As OP said, some groups are certainly like that, but I’ve been to a couple that are actively and explicitly secular. Every group is different.