The 'Burnerverse': Anonymous Online Network Targets Young Women

An anonymous online network known as the "burnerverse" is targeting young women, primarily college students, by spreading nonconsensual intimate images and defamatory rumors, according to reporting by Wired.

Maddie Kowalski, a student at the University of Florida, became a victim when nonconsensual intimate images and videos of her were uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, and viewed millions of times. The dissemination was followed by a campaign of intimidation and harassment, with Kowalski and her family receiving threatening calls and texts. Despite seeking help from the police, the university, and X, the content spread rapidly.

Ej Dickson, a senior culture writer at Wired, described the burnerverse as a loosely connected network of anonymous "burner" accounts on X. While the community ostensibly focuses on college sports, a segment has emerged that is noted for its racist, misogynistic, and antisemitic content. This segment engages in doxxing young college-age women.

Dickson clarified that this behavior is not representative of the entire college sports fan community on X, stating that the vast majority of accounts are innocuous. However, a sizable enough portion of the burnerverse is dedicated to these harmful activities.

The perpetrators are not limited to college students; the network includes men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, some of whom are married with children or grandchildren, and come from diverse backgrounds across the country. This wide-ranging demographic makes the phenomenon particularly concerning.

Another notable case highlighted is that of Mary Kate Cornett, a student at Ole Miss. In February 2025, a false and defamatory rumor about her sex life went viral, escalating to the point where her name became a trending topic nationally on X. The rumor was amplified by college sports personalities, including an ESPN personality who discussed it on his podcast.

Dickson explained that the speed at which these narratives gain traction is alarming. In Cornett's case, her parents' house was swatted within hours of her learning about the viral rumor.

The descent of college sports fan accounts into this behavior is attributed partly to the nature of internet subcultures, where extremist elements can splinter off. Dickson also suggested that the discourse surrounding college sports, particularly within media ecosystems like Barstool, may create a space for misogyny to fester.

Young, attractive, and often white women are targeted if they are perceived to have deviated from perceived sexual norms, or if rumors, texts, or photos about them are leaked. The burnerverse then intentionally amplifies this content. Dickson has observed numerous posts with a woman's name and a call to action like, "Make her famous, make her go viral."

Preventing such incidents is complex. While platforms are developing AI tools to combat nonconsensual intimate images, the rise of deepfakes and AI-manipulated content presents significant challenges. Dickson emphasized the importance of parental guidance in raising sons to respect women and understand the impact of their online actions.

Education within fraternities, sororities, and universities is also crucial. Dickson noted that nearly a dozen other young women have been targeted by the burnerverse, underscoring that Kowalski's experience is not an isolated incident. The issue is seen as part of a larger ecosystem where men often act with impunity against women.