Maurizio Crozza's Napalm51: A Satirical Portrait of the Italian Web Hater

In 2016, Italian comedian Maurizio Crozza introduced Napalm51, a satirical character embodying the archetypal Italian web hater, or 'webete'—a term popularized by journalist Enrico Mentana. Crozza, known for his television comedy and skill in blending national-popular icons, created Napalm51 as a mask for the typical internet user: a middle-aged, unemployed man living with his sick mother, who spends his days on social media venting anger and spreading conspiracy theories. The character reflects broader societal issues such as functional illiteracy, the rise of populism, and the erosion of democratic discourse, as previously warned by Umberto Eco in his 2015 lecture on the 'invasion of imbeciles' via social media. Crozza's pantheon also includes other caricatures like pseudo-scientist Antonio Zichichi, vegan chef Germidi Soia, and architect Fuksas, all critiquing contemporary Italian culture. The article, published on Artribune by Helga Marsala, examines the phenomenon of online hatred and its implications for democracy, especially in the context of Brexit and Italy's constitutional referendum.