Lappin, Yaakov, and Daniel Chen. “Deleting terror: US group works to search, destroy online ISIS propaganda.” The Jerusalem Post, 29 June 2016, https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/isis-threat/deleting-terror-us-group-works-to-search-destroy-online-isis-propaganda-459054. Accessed 25 June 2023.
Social media has enabled the world to become more connected than ever before. People spend hours endlessly scrolling through feeds that capture their attention, staying up to date on happenings in their community and around the globe. However, more recently, militant groups are becoming visible on social media platforms, raising their voices the more propaganda they spread. This poses a serious threat to innocent users, especially children, who use these platforms regularly and are vulnerable to this propaganda.
Examples of ISIS Twitter propaganda. Kraft, Amy. “Report tracks hundreds of U.S. ISIS sympathizers on Twitter.” CBS News, 1 December 2015, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-radicalizing-us-activists-and-sympathizers-through-twitter/. Accessed 24 June 2023.
Militant groups tend to gravitate towards social media so they can use it as a propaganda tool. Being mostly state-run organizations, having the power to control information on these platforms can serve as a method for winning over local populations. The methods they use to gain support are very similar to social media influencers. They often manipulate articles, photos, and videos to push narratives advantageous to them. For example, The Taliban was already accustomed to disseminating propaganda. Throughout its history, it fought a propaganda war with older forms of technology, selling VHS videos in the early 2000s and distributing pamphlets. However, in 2021, around the time Kabul fell, the Taliban’s voice was amplified on Twitter. Over 126,000 Twitter accounts either retweeted Taliban content or posted content shared by the Taliban’s core network. Additionally, from April 1st to September 16th, more than 8 million people responded to Taliban tweets. This further proves that social media propaganda can persuade and easily engage the general public.
Children can also be negatively influenced by the rise in militant groups’ social media propaganda. Many groups’ marketing methods are specifically directed to recruiting children, especially those aged 13 to 18. More specifically, they often use cartoons, music, and video games to convey their messages.1 There are many reasons why children join these radical organizations, including a search for identity and meaning, growing societal inequalities, few employment opportunities, and discrimination. Once in the organization, leaders gradually try to gain their loyalty. At first, they ask the children to perform small and non-costly actions; however, the commitment level escalates as children may be asked to spread propaganda online or write inflammatory statements on discussion forums.1
There are many ways social media users and the international community can help fight this
problem. For example, we should emphasize educational literacy about disinformation so
children know how to properly interpret information online. Some platforms have partnered with civil society organizations to fact-check information and provide links for digital literacy games. In addition, CommonSenseMedia
provides a full digital citizenship curriculum, teaching children that the decisions they make online can impact their futures. One part of the curriculum, titled “News & Media Literacy”, helps students “identify credible sources and reflect on their responsibilities as thoughtful media creators and consumers.”2
With the threat of militant groups looming, it is more important than ever to protect ourselves online so we do not become vulnerable to their propaganda.
Our media matters.
Sources
1 Youth and Violent Extremism on Social Media: Mapping the Research. UNESCO Publishing, 2017. Accessed 24 June 2023.
2 “Digital Literacy and Citizenship.” Common Sense Media, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/what-we-stand-for/digital-literacy-and-citizenship. Accessed 24 June 2023.
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