The Rise of the 'Dinergoth' and the Changing Face of Class in America

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a recent essay in The New Atlantis, startup founder Robert Mariani coined the term 'dinergoth' to describe a new demographic of young Americans who blend internet subcultures with material hardship in small-town America. Mariani argues this 'dinergoth' represents the internet's conquest of the real world, but critics say his perspective reveals more about his own class biases than the true nature of modern class dynamics.

Why it matters

Mariani's essay touches on broader questions about how the internet is reshaping class identity and social mobility in 21st-century America. While he sees the 'dinergoth' as a symptom of the internet's corrosive influence, others argue his analysis reflects a narrow, tech-centric view that fails to fully capture the complex interplay between online and offline class structures.

The details

In his essay, Mariani describes the 'dinergoth' as a 'concentrated archetype and mass-cultural wave' - a person who embodies the intersection of internet-driven subcultures and material hardship in small-town America. He paints a picture of 'Hello Kitty ketamine ravers,' 'dispensary cashiers in Korn T-shirts,' and 'TikTok cosplayers dancing in the parking lot' as emblematic of this new demographic. Mariani argues the dinergoth lacks both history and future, 'spawning almost without warning in those familiar landscapes of American ennui.'

• Mariani first encountered the 'dinergoth' concept through a romantic relationship with a woman he met on Tinder in Portland.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The debate sparked by Mariani's essay is likely to continue as researchers and commentators further explore the intersection of internet culture, class identity, and the changing social fabric of small-town America.