PICT113: Social Media's Impact on Terrorism and Counterterrorism

This essay critically examines the multifaceted impact of social media on contemporary terrorism and the corresponding counterterrorism strategies. It delves into how terrorist organizations, such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, leverage platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for propaganda dissemination, recruitment, training, and the self-radicalization of individuals. The essay analyzes the effectiveness of these methods, including the use of graphic content and targeted messaging to incite violence and garner support. Furthermore, it explores the countermeasures employed by governments and cybersecurity agencies, including censorship and public diplomacy, to mitigate the spread of extremist ideologies and disrupt terrorist activities online. Case studies, such as Al-Qaeda's utilization of social media, are presented to illustrate the evolving tactics of terrorist groups and the challenges faced by counterterrorism efforts. The essay also touches upon the sale and purchase of armaments on social media, highlighting the need for strict censorship and regulatory measures to ensure national and international security. Ultimately, the essay underscores the dynamic relationship between social media and terrorism, emphasizing the need for adaptive and comprehensive counterterrorism approaches.

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IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM AND COUNTER-
TERRORISM
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Institutional Affiliation

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INTRODUCTION
Over a period of time, especially after 9/11, the tactics of contemporary terrorism has
changed a lot. The use of social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube etcetera are used
by terrorist groups for the organisation, recruitment, training, and self-radicalisation of the
dissidents. Social media is used for propaganda and inculcation of extremism ideologies for
the targeted audience. The critical analysis of the impact of social media uses by radicals to
mobilise the audience is done in this essay. The countermeasures tactics, investigative
approach by cybersecurity is also critically discussed.
IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CONTEMPORARY TERRORISM AND
COUNTER-TERRORISM
Propaganda Tools
The activities of terrorist groups have been increased due to access to social media.
Different propaganda tools are used like video, audios, images, and content to provoke the
like-minded people for violent acts. Much call-to-action texts are shared via Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube to invoke the sentiments and to gather the supports. For example; Omar
Mateen who was an American get inspired by the online content of ISIS and killed 49 people
and injured many in Orlando, Florida. He said that he would shoot again in support of ISIS
(Idahosa, 2017).
Governments of the world need to use the social media as an investigative and counter
use means to counter terrorism because 90 per cent of the activation of masses to encourage
for violence is happening through Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (Rothenberger). These
social media means are vital to keeping eyes on. Otherwise, countries will fail to analyse the
depth of connectivity of terrorist organisation worldwide.
The spread of Terrorist’s Ideology and Radicalization

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Terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS have understood the importance of social
media in the modern world. Thus, they have started organising themselves, spread their
ideology via Facebook pages and groups. Al-Qaeda, particularly, has targeted the audience of
the United States, to radicalise dissident and unemployed youth for terrorist activities
(Thompson, 2011). Terrorist organisations spread their ideologies by sensitising and giving
dissidents a sense of purpose in their lives.
Numerous terrorist speeches are present on YouTube which imposes the ideology of
terrorist organisations of the weak minds and regulates their actions (Vand 2017). Al-Qaeda
in the Maghreb (AQIM) has sponsored its operations through a Twitter account. In 2013 their
account was investigated, and around 5,500 followers were found on their account. Critically
these followers with weak minds were instigated and manipulated by the posts of AQIM. The
account was later suspended.
Similarly, Al Shabaab which is Somali based terrorist group also used a Twitter
account to spread their ideology and to radicalise people. Al Nusra group in connection with
Aleppo has also sensitised their operations. The critical analysis of such activities on social
media accounts shows how these organisations manipulate and deploy the religious, social
and economic ideologies and beliefs into their favour to justify their actions.
Targeted Audience
The terrorist leaders have known the importance and impact of social media. It has
been observed that video or graphic content on television channels, Facebook, YouTube, and
Twitter has moved the people rather than print media (Cho, & Boyle, 2010). The critical
analysis of the September 2011 attack has shown the difference of content on print and
electronic media and the emotional reaction of both the audiences. The people who watched
videos and graphics were more emotionally disturbed than the news readers.

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Such tactics are manipulated by terrorist organisations. They record videos of
violence against innocent women and children and civilians and influence the audience to
gain their support. The concept of Jihad is wrongly inculcated in the young minds to provoke
them for participation in their operations. Another critical examination is of the war between
the Soviet Union, And the United States has shown that these Jihadis were prepared on the
sentiments of religion to fight with Soviets. But later on when their target was achieved, and
the Soviet Union was defeated these Jihadis were renamed as a terrorist. People do not
believe the one ideology because the evidence of the number of operations has shown the
manipulation and exploitation of believers.
Another kind of audience which is usually targeted is the dissident, frustrated and
unemployed youth which is abandoned by the government. And those who are more exposed
to violent material are more. The audience who feel alienation from the mainstream nation,
they feel that their rights are not respected and even denied. Such an audience is the easy prey
for the terrorist organisation. The critical analysis of Balochistan depicts a similar scenario;
they feel alienated and abandoned from the mainstream nation. Their deviated locals became
inclined towards suspicious activities, and porous border with Afghanistan has eased the
objective of terrorist groups.
Relationship between Terrorist Organization and Social Media
The analysis of the various website and social links has shown that 90 percent of
terrorism is organised via social media means. They use pages, groups, or private messages to
share their information and operational activities (Weimann). There is a number of such
examples are observed on social media like the Taliban operate their dissemination of
information via alhemarahwed and ABalkhi. The Hamas group operates their dissemination
of information via Hamasinfo. The Al-Qassam Brigades spread their activities and ideology
via al-Qassam brigades. The Hizbullah and Al-Manar TV spread their material via

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almanarnews. There are plenty of such examples; each organisation has developed its
followers and audiences through these channels. There also present platforms like Ask.fm,
VK.com, KiK, Diaspora, Friendica, Justpaste.it and SoundCloud which has accelerated their
progress.
The relationship between terrorist organisations and social media has strengthened
due to easy access. They do operations and viral its video or content to gain attention and
sensitising masses. On the other hand, the war of propaganda is also played by organisations
to justify their deeds (Wilkinson, 2007). These justifications if seems in collaboration with
like-minded people they start to support. Thousands of recruitments, inspirations, and training
have been given through videos and private groups on social media.
The critical analysis of such involvement demonstrates that government and counter-
terrorism agencies need to encourage public diplomacy to divert the attention of the nationals
and to encourage them to participate in progressive and developmental programs which better
the social and economic conditions of people.
Sale and Purchase of Armament of Social Media
This is another worry for the counter-terrorism agencies and organisations. The
analysis of a number of pages and groups on Facebook has illustrated the sale and purchase
of destructive weapons and armaments. Various sellers connect with extremist groups via
these channels. For example; fighters from Syria have purchased weapons and ammunition
via these groups and pages. The Facebook page named “The First Weapon Market In Idlib”
was operating through Facebook. It has sold the MANPADS which is also known as man
carrier air defence system. It was sold at the price of 67,000 US dollars. It is missile like used
for the destruction of the civilian or military jet in the air. This page was later suspended.
The bomb makers from extremist groups have recorded videos in which they have
told all the procedure and technical expertise to create a bomb. They called it a kitchen bomb-

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making. They have given detail information about the usage of materials and chemical
reactions which can be prepared in the home kitchen. Such videos went viral among the
rebellion before coming into the knowledge of counter-terrorism agencies. These were later
removed, but these may still exist among the users. Critical censorship should be adopted by
the sites, and government information and broadcasting regulating authority should take strict
measures to counter these activities on media. Strict censorship is critically required for
national and international security and peace.
Case Study – Al-Qaeda’s Utilization of Social Media
Al-Qaeda has understood the impact of social media in the 21st century. Al-Qaeda
media persons use these platforms for the recruitment for foreign fighters in their operations
(Gates, & Podder, 2015). The youth of America and other developed countries also get
influenced by these social media outlets. The Al-Qaeda leader named Ayman al-Zawahiri
considered the media as an online battleground. He said that is it vital to spread true
knowledge about jihad and purpose of life. He considered the media as a battleground for the
Ummah. From this, we can analyse the critical approach of these leaders and how they turn
the use of platforms for their favour.
Al-Qaeda has played a visible role in the progress of contemporary terrorism.
Especially, the media coverage of the September 2011 attack has widened their scope
worldwide (Seib, & Janbek, 2010). These have become a first step for the terrorist
organisations of interplay with the ideologies of the masses and inculcate their perception of
ideologies in the minds of people. Those with less knowledge, exposure, and research work
become the victim of such groups and get trapped in their version of ideologies. The
contemporary terrorism has widened its effects on the globe. Almost all the countries’
policymakers contemplate for counter-terrorism measures and strategies. The United States

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as a superpower has created its military bases all over the world to counter the spread of Al-
Qaeda and other extremist groups.
Experts of Al-Qaeda organisation have recorded such video lectures which provides
detail knowledge and training about the bomb-making. They also recruit people who have
chemical engineering or basic knowledge of conducting chemical reactions and materials.
Otherwise, it also provides training to new recruiters to increase their expertise. Al-Qaeda’s
magazine has also outflow its effects worldwide. The social media has lessened their efforts
to find and connect with such deviant people.
The inspiration of Extremism through Social Media
The impact of social media on contemporary terrorism can be observed with the
critical analysis of digital magazines run by fanatical groups. For examples; the digital
magazine of Al-Qaeda has inculcated their narrow interpretation of Islam in young minds.
These practices have generated the concept of self-radicalisation which has encouraged the
notion of individual jihad (Sivek, 2013). The critical analysis of individual jihad mindset has
shown the evidence that it is provoked to run the terrorist activities in the recruited
hometown. The inspiration for individual jihad and self-radicalisation is continuously fed via
outlets of social media platforms.
Terrorist organisations have become strategic enough; they first understand the social
and economic conditions of targeted audiences then manipulate their philosophies and beliefs
according to their unmet rights and privileges (Melki, & Jabado, 2016). Anti-terrorism
organisations and institutions need to anticipate these tactics used by rebellions to design
effective counter-terrorism measures. Without giving a strategic vision to the use of social
media counter-terrorism measures will get affected due to unapproached loopholes. It is vital
to cover all these loopholes on social media by sensitising strict censorship to damage the
flow of violent and inciting content of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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The critical analysis of so-called inspirational content has encouraged killers like
Omar Mateen who was an American nationality but killed a number of civilians in Orlando,
Florida. He admitted that he had done this act for the support of ISIS, and he proposed that he
will continue doing this in support of ISIS. The empirical evidence depicts how the dissidents
can get inspired by extremist self-radicalisation philosophy for contemporary terrorism. Anti-
terrorism organisations should develop anti-terror content and should engage the audience in
the positive activities for the welfare on a national and global level.
Social Media Tactics to Counter Terrorism
The contemporary terrorist tactics have changed over the period of time, especially
after 9/11. The national and international security policymakers should adopt tactics
according to to the present measures. For example, traditional security measure means the use
of force or military has not generated targeted results. In the case of Afghanistan, the use of
military power has more complicated the situations and negotiations among the stakeholders
(Rineheart, 2010). Thus, the blend of soft and hard power is the new tactics which should be
adopted by the peace and security policymakers around the globe.
First tactic; just like contemporary terrorism content on social media, counter-
terrorism, and its condemnation text should make viral on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube,
etc. This will provide an open platform for the general people to generate critical analysis by
comparing and contrast the different ideologies presented by terrorist and anti-terrorist
organisations. The effects and impacts of wrong and right doing should be openly discussed
so those who are inclined towards extremism will give a second thought to their wrongly
perceived purpose.
The second tactic; analyse the audience which is targeted by the radicals, and create
policies to engage such audience in the developmental projects, initiating counterterrorism
programs, sensitising a sense of social and economic development and good governance for

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the of the countries. The sense of abundance and isolation needs to dismantle for the minds of
dissidents. Otherwise, the radicals exploit them for their violent operations. For example; the
US Delta Force has conducted a raid in which they remain successful for the freedom of
seventy Kurdish. It has remained is the suspension of six Twitter accounts operated by
insurgents.
Investigation on Social Media to Counter Terrorism
Social media is a new battleground for the insurgents in the context of contemporary
terrorism. Therefore, anti-terrorism agencies should take social media as an investigative
area. The role of cybersecurity force and intelligence agencies is vital for the investigation on
Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, etc. The insurgents are equipped with the latest and
modern technology; therefore; it has become more challenging for the intelligence agencies
all over the world to trace terrorists. Although, a number of accounts have been accessed and
blocked in the last decade, and cell phone numbers are traced for the location. But terrorists
and leaders switch to another number before getting captured. All these challenges have
emerged over the period of time, and new investigative tools will need to be generated to
counter terrorism (Dean, Bell, & Newman, 2012).
The investigation over the attack conducted by the Nidal Hassan who has shot dead
thirteen people has revealed that he had been being continuous contact with Anwar al-Awlaki
through email. Anwar al-Awlaki was a Yemen based terrorist leader who was providing
guidance to Nidal Hassan about how, when and where to conduct terror act. The online
investigation has revealed its hundreds of videos on YouTube in which he has provided
materials for the recruiters. He was the master planner and organiser of terror activities for
Al-Qaeda and alliance groups. Such empirical evidence depicts the sensitivity of the
cybersecurity issue over the internet.

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CONCLUSION
It is prerequisite for the present governments, agencies, and policymakers to adapt to
contemporary strategies adopted by the radicals to countermeasure. The use of a blend of soft
and hard power is the need of this era. Only military power will not out root these insurgents
rather taking social media as a contemporary battlefield and a contemporary investigation
area will play a role to detect terrorist organisations.

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