Social Media and Radical Ideologies
Warner, Christine. "This Is Exactly How Social Media Algorithms Work Today" Skyword, May 3rd, 2018 https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/marketing/this-is-exactly-how-social-media-algorithms-work-today/
Facebook keeps a historical account of your personal engagement with posts by friends and brand pages, and the Facebook News Feed algorithm also predicts what you want to see based on those past interactions with friends or brands.
"Definition of Extremist" Oxford Dictionaries, N/A https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/extremist
A person who holds extreme political or religious views, especially one who advocates illegal, violent, or other extreme action.
Walton, Alice G. "6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Health" Forbes, June 30, 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/30/a-run-down-of-social-medias-effects-on-our-mental-health/#3c3d26b12e5a
A review study from Nottingham Trent University looked back over earlier research on the psychological characteristics, personality, and social media use. The authors conclude that "it may be plausible to speak specifically of 'Facebook Addiction Disorder'...because addiction criteria, such as neglect of personal life, mental preoccupation, escapism, mood modifying experiences, tolerance and concealing the addictive behavior, appear to be present in some people who use [social networks] excessively."
Feliciano, Zachary. "Is Social Media Hindering Our Face-To-Face Socialization Skills?" Connecticut Health I-Team, August 20, 2015 http://c-hit.org/2015/08/20/is-social-media-hindering-our-face-to-face-social-skills/
A third of teens (34 percent) agree either strongly or somewhat that using social media takes away from time they could be spending with people face-to-face, and 44 percent agree at least "somewhat" that using social media often distracts them from the people they're with when they get together in person.
Fader, Sarah. "Social Media Obsession and Anxiety" Anxiety and Depression Association of America, N/A https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession
According to experts, almost 20% of people with social media accounts cannot go more than three hours without checking them.
"What are Known Violent Extreme Groups?" FBI, N/A https://www.fbi.gov/cve508/teen-website/what-are-known-violent-extremist-groups
Al Qaeda, which means "The Base" in Arabic, is a global extremist network started in 1988 by the now deceased Osama bin Laden. It seeks to free Muslim countries from the influence of Western countries and attacks Muslim nations that don't agree with its version of the Islamic religion. Al Qaeda attacks those it believes are enemies of Islam. In 1988, Al Qaeda said that it is the duty of its followers to kill Americans and citizens of other countries that support the United States. Al Qaeda has carried out many bombings and other acts of violence, including the attacks of September 11, 2001.
"What are Known Violent Extreme Groups?" FBI, N/A https://www.fbi.gov/cve508/teen-website/what-are-known-violent-extremist-groups
Al Shabaab is a violent extremist organization based in Somalia that seeks to replace the current government through violence. Al Shabaab has recruited dozens of U.S. citizens to train and fight with them. Al Shabaab has carried out many bombings and murders in Somalia and in nearby countries such as Kenya. It not only targets government officials and military troops but also Somali peace activists, international aid workers, police officers, and others. Al Shabaab has a history of kidnapping and hurting women and girls.
Tobias, Manuela. "Why Infowars' Alex Jones was banned from Apple, Facebook, Youtube and Spotify" Politifact, August 7, 2018 https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/aug/07/why-infowars-alex-jones-was-banned-apple-facebook-/
Alex Jones, the creator of the Infowars website and multiple talk shows, has had a hand in spreading hoaxes online, including unproven theories that the Sandy Hook massacre was fabricated, and that Democrats ran a child abuse-ring out of a pizzeria.
Anderson, Janna and Raine, Lee. "The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World" Pew Research Center, April 17, 2018 https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-being/
An anonymous research scientist and professor said, "The grand internet experiment is slowly derailing. The technologies that 50 years ago we could only dream of in science fiction novels, which we then actually created with so much faith and hope in their power to unite us and make us freer, have been co-opted into tools of surveillance, behavioral manipulation, radicalization and addiction."
"What are Known Violent Extreme Groups?" FBI, N/A https://www.fbi.gov/cve508/teen-website/what-are-known-violent-extremist-groups
Anarchist extremists believe that society should have no government, laws, or police, and they are loosely organized, with no central leadership. Violent anarchist extremists believe that such a society can only be created through force. Violent anarchist extremists usually target symbols of capitalism they believe to be the cause of all problems in society—such as large corporations, government organizations, and police agencies. They damage property, cause riots, and set off firebombs. In some cases, they have injured police officers.
Tobias, Manuela. "Why Infowars' Alex Jones was banned from Apple, Facebook, Youtube and Spotify" Politifact, August 7, 2018 https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/aug/07/why-infowars-alex-jones-was-banned-apple-facebook-/
Apple was the first to act. It pulled five of Infowars' six podcasts from the iTunes and Podcasts apps. Those included War Room and the popular Alex Jones Show podcast, which is hosted daily. Facebook and Spotify followed suit. Facebook unpublished four pages: the Alex Jones Channel Page, the Alex Jones Page, the Infowars Page, and the Infowars Nightly News Page. They also suspended Alex Jones' personal account, for his role in posting the content. Spotify removed all episodes of The Alex Jones Show.
Feliciano, Zachary. "Is Social Media Hindering Our Face-To-Face Socialization Skills?" Connecticut Health I-Team, August 20, 2015 http://c-hit.org/2015/08/20/is-social-media-hindering-our-face-to-face-social-skills/
Carothers said that frequent virtual interactions through social media lack emotion, and when coming face-to-face with a person, frequent users of social media may "miss some social cues." Carothers also said that the "quality of [the] relationships may not be as great" as those that are based in face-to-face socializing. A problem that arises from this is that youths may become "confused (about) what an actual friendship is," Carothers said.
"Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System" United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017 https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Child-Victims/Handbook_on_Children_Recruited_and_Exploited_by_Terrorist_and_Violent_Extremist_Groups_the_Role_of_the_Justice_System.E.pdf
Children are more easily intimidated and far easier to control, both physically and mentally, than adults. Children are more inclined to quickly show loyalty to authority figures and are especially susceptible to following beliefs and behaviours of those they love and respect, an element that is especially relevant when families are involved in the recruitment process. The groups, who strive to ensure their future survival, may see the use of children as an "investment in the future generation".
"Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System" United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017 https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Child-Victims/Handbook_on_Children_Recruited_and_Exploited_by_Terrorist_and_Violent_Extremist_Groups_the_Role_of_the_Justice_System.E.pdf
Children who have been recruited and exploited by terrorist and violent extremist groups are victims of violence at multiple levels. They are often victims of extreme violence during their association with the group; which includes ferocious recruitment methods, enslavement, sexual exploitation, exposure to constant fear, indoctrination and psychological pressure.
Berger, J.M. "Extremist Construction of Identity: How Escalating Demands for Legitimacy Shape and Define In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics" International Center for Counter-Terrorism, April 2017 https://icct.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ICCT-Berger-Extremist-Construction-of-Identity-April-2017-2.pdf
Escalating demands for legitimacy can be measured in part by their expansion from real, present-day conflicts between an in-group and an out-group (or groups) to characterize the conflict as historical and set formal expectations for the future of the conflict (such as through religious prophecy).
"Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System" United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017 https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Child-Victims/Handbook_on_Children_Recruited_and_Exploited_by_Terrorist_and_Violent_Extremist_Groups_the_Role_of_the_Justice_System.E.pdf
Estimates indicate that, since 2009, about 8,000 children have been recruited and used by Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Feliciano, Zachary. "Is Social Media Hindering Our Face-To-Face Socialization Skills?" Connecticut Health I-Team, August 20, 2015 http://c-hit.org/2015/08/20/is-social-media-hindering-our-face-to-face-social-skills/
In a large survey conducted by CommonSenseMedia.Org, 90 percent of teens surveyed, ages 13 to 17, reported having used some form of social media in their lives.
Anderson, Janna and Raine, Lee. "The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World" Pew Research Center, April 17, 2018 https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-being/
Leora Lawton, lecturer in demography and sociology and executive director of the Berkeley Population Center at the University of California, Berkeley, shared these reasons digital life is likely to be mostly harmful: "The long-term effects of children growing up with screen time are not well understood but early signs are not encouraging: poor attention spans, anxiety, depression and lack of in-person social connections are some of the correlations already seen, as well as the small number of teens who become addicts and non-functioning adults."
"Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System" United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017 https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Child-Victims/Handbook_on_Children_Recruited_and_Exploited_by_Terrorist_and_Violent_Extremist_Groups_the_Role_of_the_Justice_System.E.pdf
The involvement of terrorist and violent extremist groups entails numerous new challenges for States. First, prevention has become particularly complex, as evidenced by the innovative methods of propaganda and recruitment employed specifically by such groups. This is a primary concern to efforts to effectively tackle a security threat while, at the same time, limiting the victimization of such children.
Warner, Christine. "This Is Exactly How Social Media Algorithms Work Today" Skyword, May 3rd, 2018 https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/marketing/this-is-exactly-how-social-media-algorithms-work-today/
The thousands of signals used to present this content are grouped into three main categories: Personal Identity: Your individual LinkedIn profile, including your workplace, skills, and connections Content Engagement: The total views, total likes, update topic, post recency, language, and mentioned people or companies Personal Behavior: Your past likes and shares, interaction frequency, and time spent in your Feed
"Extremist Use of Social Media" The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, 2017 https://jsis.washington.edu/news/extremist-use-social-media/
There is a need of solution to allow law enforcement to protect citizens while also protecting the rights of activists and ordinary people.
"The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists" National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, 2017 https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIRUS_UseOfSocialMediaByUSExtremists_ResearchBrief_July2018.pdf
While social media does not appear to increase the success rates of extremist outcomes, evidence suggests that it has contributed to the acceleration of radicalization of U.S. extremists. For example, the average radicalization duration of U.S. foreign fighters in 2005, when social media was first emerging as a factor in the radicalization of U.S. extremists, was approximately 18 months. In 2016, when over 90% of U.S. foreign fighters were active on social media, the duration of radicalization was down to 13 months on average.
"What are Known Violent Extreme Groups?" FBI, N/A https://www.fbi.gov/cve508/teen-website/what-are-known-violent-extremist-groups
White supremacy extremists are motivated by a hatred of other races and religions. Some try to achieve their political and social goals through violence. These violent extremists often wrongly believe that the U.S. government is hurting the country or secretly planning to destroy it. White supremacy violent extremists target the federal government and racial, ethnic, and religious minorities. Their methods have included murder, threats, and bombings. As just one example, white supremacists attacked a pair of Middle Eastern men on New Year's Eve in 2011, punching one victim in the face and head.
Saltman, Erin Marie. "How Young People Join Violent Extremist Groups — and How to Stop Them" TED, 2017 https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_marie_saltman_how_young_people_join_violent_extremist_groups_and_how_to_stop_them/discussion?referrer=playlist-the_roots_of_extremism
When we look at foreign terrorist fighters, we see young men with the wind in their hair out in the desert and women going to join them to have nuptials out in the sunset. It's very romantic, and you become a hero. For both men and women, that's the propaganda being given. So what extremist groups are very good at is taking a very complicated, confusing, nuanced world and simplifying that world into black and white, good and evil. And you become what is good, challenging what is evil.
Kassner, Michael. "Biases in Algorithms: The Case for and Against Government Regulation" TechRepublic, February 10, 2017 https://www.techrepublic.com/article/biases-in-algorithms-the-case-for-and-against-government-regulation/
"Creativity can't be stifled nor research placed under an extra burden. Our hand must be measured and not premature. Creative individuals must be allowed the freedom to work, and not assigned bad intentions a priori. Likewise, before any action is taken, the actual use of an algorithm must be considered, as it is generally not the computer program at fault but the way it is used."
"Extremist Use of Social Media" The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, 2017 https://jsis.washington.edu/news/extremist-use-social-media/
(Possible Solution) The government should sponsor an ad-campaign that outlines how to know when someone is in communication with extremists via social media and advises individuals on how to approach the situation and report such instances. Moreover, early education of children and young adults should focus on Internet safety and how to recognize the signs of extremism online and in their peers.
Saltman, Erin Marie. "How Young People Join Violent Extremist Groups — and How to Stop Them" TED, 2017 https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_marie_saltman_how_young_people_join_violent_extremist_groups_and_how_to_stop_them/discussion?referrer=playlist-the_roots_of_extremism
(Referring to Far Right Camp that speaker attended) "But going to this camp, I was further shocked to realize that it was actually really fun. They talked very little about politics. It was mostly learning how to ride horses, shooting a bow and arrow, live music at night, free food and alcohol, also some air-gun target practice using mainstream politicians' faces as targets. And this seemed like a very, actually, friendly, inclusive group until you started talking or mentioning anything to do with the Roma population, Jewish people or immigrants, and then the discourse would become very hate-based very quickly."
Reality Check Team. "Social Media: How can Governments Regulate it?" BBC News, February 7, 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47135058
At the moment, when it comes to graphic content, social media largely relies on self-governance. Sites such as YouTube and Facebook have their own rules about what's unacceptable (video, pictures or text) and the way that users are expected to behave towards one another.
Kassner, Michael. "Biases in Algorithms: The Case for and Against Government Regulation" TechRepublic, February 10, 2017 https://www.techrepublic.com/article/biases-in-algorithms-the-case-for-and-against-government-regulation/
"People have a right to an explanation about the decisions that affect them. And they have a right not to be discriminated against. This is why we have to be in a position to comprehend the decision-making processes of algorithms and, where necessary, to correct them."
Saltman, Erin Marie. "How Young People Join Violent Extremist Groups — and How to Stop Them" TED, 2017 https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_marie_saltman_how_young_people_join_violent_extremist_groups_and_how_to_stop_them/discussion?referrer=playlist-the_roots_of_extremism
"So it led me into my work now, where we pose the question, 'Why do people join violent extremist movements, and how do we effectively counter these processes?' In the aftermath of horrible atrocities and attacks in places like Belgium, France, but all over the world, sometimes it's easier for us to think, 'Well, these must be sociopaths, these must be naturally violent individuals. They must have something wrong with their upbringing.' And what's really tragic is that oftentimes there's no one profile."
Kassner, Michael. "Biases in Algorithms: The Case for and Against Government Regulation" TechRepublic, February 10, 2017 https://www.techrepublic.com/article/biases-in-algorithms-the-case-for-and-against-government-regulation/
"They (algorithms) do not have prejudices and are unemotional," writes Alan Reid, senior lecturer in law at Sheffield Hallam University in this Conversation column. "But algorithms can be programmed to be biased or unintentional bias can creep into the system."
Reality Check Team. "Social Media: How can Governments Regulate it?" BBC News, February 7, 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47135058
"This is a situation that needs to change", according to Culture Minister Margot James. She says she wants the government to bring in legislation that will force social media platforms to remove illegal content and "prioritize the protection of users, especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults".
Walton, Alice G. "6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Health" Forbes, June 30, 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/30/a-run-down-of-social-medias-effects-on-our-mental-health/#3c3d26b12e5a
"This magnitude of envy incidents taking place on FB alone is astounding, providing evidence that FB offers a breeding ground for invidious feelings." They add that it can become a vicious cycle: feeling jealous can make a person want to make his or her own life look better, and post jealousy-inducing posts of their own, in an endless circle of one-upping and feeling jealous.
"Extremist Use of Social Media" The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, 2017 https://jsis.washington.edu/news/extremist-use-social-media/
(Possible Solution) Law enforcement and intelligence agencies should be given the authority to legally collect the information necessary for national security on any U.S. or non-U.S. person, if and only if, the person or persons in question present a clear and present danger or have close ties to someone who presents a clear and present danger.
Kassner, Michael. "Biases in Algorithms: The Case for and Against Government Regulation" TechRepublic, February 10, 2017 https://www.techrepublic.com/article/biases-in-algorithms-the-case-for-and-against-government-regulation/
Corporations make decisions on how to treat customers and company employees using information provided by algorithms. Government organizations decide how to distribute services or dole out justice based on the output of data-driven algorithms.
Warner, Christine. "This Is Exactly How Social Media Algorithms Work Today" Skyword, May 3rd, 2018 https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/marketing/this-is-exactly-how-social-media-algorithms-work-today/
Each social media network has a unique set of technical elements, intricate logic, and usage analytics that make up the algorithm that delivers content to its users. Seen in the fluctuation of social media algorithms in the past, the biggest consideration—or debate—is balancing personal relevance with post timeliness.
Kassner, Michael. "Biases in Algorithms: The Case for and Against Government Regulation" TechRepublic, February 10, 2017 https://www.techrepublic.com/article/biases-in-algorithms-the-case-for-and-against-government-regulation/
Daniel Saraga, head of science communication at the Swiss National Science Foundation, asks in a recent Phys.org column, Should algorithms be regulated? For instance, think about a driverless car and its ability to recognize obstacles in the road: "The control algorithm has to decide whether it will put the life of its passengers at risk or endanger uninvolved passers-by on the pavement."
Anderson, Janna and Raine, Lee. "The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World" Pew Research Center, April 17, 2018 https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-being/
David Ellis, Ph.D., course director of the department of communication studies at York University in Toronto, said, "Much like a mutating virus, digital services and devices keep churning out new threats along with the new benefits - making mitigation efforts a daunting and open-ended challenge for everyone. Over the next decade, the majority of North Americans will experience harms of many different kinds thanks to the widespread adoption and use of digital technologies..."
Tobias, Manuela. "Why Infowars' Alex Jones was banned from Apple, Facebook, Youtube and Spotify" Politifact, August 7, 2018 https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/aug/07/why-infowars-alex-jones-was-banned-apple-facebook-/
David Karpf, an associate professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, said social media platforms have been wrestling with the Infowars issue for a long time. Jones' mass following and acceptance by Republican politicians (President Donald Trump once appeared on his show) made him a thorny subject, and he often skirted the boundaries of acceptable behavior by not expressly issuing incitements to violence.
Warner, Christine. "This Is Exactly How Social Media Algorithms Work Today" Skyword, May 3rd, 2018 https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/marketing/this-is-exactly-how-social-media-algorithms-work-today/
The current Twitter timeline algorithm, released in February 2016, places relevant tweets first based on your interaction history with the accounts you follow.
Tobias, Manuela. "Why Infowars' Alex Jones was banned from Apple, Facebook, Youtube and Spotify" Politifact, August 7, 2018 https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/aug/07/why-infowars-alex-jones-was-banned-apple-facebook-/
Facebook defines hate speech as "a direct attack on people based on what we call protected characteristics — race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, caste, sex, gender, gender identity, and serious disease or disability..." Youtube has a similar definition. Apple does not define hate but writes that content may be removed or rejected if it could be construed as racist, misogynist, or homophobic, or depicts hate themes.
Tobias, Manuela. "Why Infowars' Alex Jones was banned from Apple, Facebook, Youtube and Spotify" Politifact, August 7, 2018 https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/aug/07/why-infowars-alex-jones-was-banned-apple-facebook-/
Facebook said that misinformation was not the culprit in the case of Alex Jones. "While much of the discussion around Infowars has been related to false news, which is a serious issue that we are working to address by demoting links marked wrong by fact-checkers and suggesting additional content, none of the violations that spurred today's removals were related to this," the press release said.
Berger, J.M. "Extremist Construction of Identity: How Escalating Demands for Legitimacy Shape and Define In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics" International Center for Counter-Terrorism, April 2017 https://icct.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ICCT-Berger-Extremist-Construction-of-Identity-April-2017-2.pdf
Identity movements are oriented toward establishing the legitimacy of a collective group (organised on the basis of geography, religion, ethnicity or other prima facie commonalities).
Reality Check Team. "Social Media: How can Governments Regulate it?" BBC News, February 7, 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47135058
If illegal content, such as "revenge pornography" or extremist material, is posted on a social media site, it will be the person who posted it, rather than the social media companies, who are most at risk of prosecution.
"The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists" National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, 2017 https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIRUS_UseOfSocialMediaByUSExtremists_ResearchBrief_July2018.pdf
Importantly, activity on open social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, played a key role in the identification and interdiction of U.S. foreign fighters and terrorism suspects in several recent cases.
"Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System" United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017 https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Child-Victims/Handbook_on_Children_Recruited_and_Exploited_by_Terrorist_and_Violent_Extremist_Groups_the_Role_of_the_Justice_System.E.pdf
In 2015 alone, the United Nations verified 274 cases of children having been recruited by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Berger, J.M. "Extremist Construction of Identity: How Escalating Demands for Legitimacy Shape and Define In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics" International Center for Counter-Terrorism, April 2017 https://icct.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ICCT-Berger-Extremist-Construction-of-Identity-April-2017-2.pdf
In texts, the process of escalation correlates to the increasing complexity of linkages between concepts, and the bundling of multiple linkages into single conceptual constructs. These mappings can inform efforts to counter extremist messaging. However, it should be noted that this paper does not argue that complexity is straightforwardly causative of extremist tendencies.
Warner, Christine. "This Is Exactly How Social Media Algorithms Work Today" Skyword, May 3rd, 2018 https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/marketing/this-is-exactly-how-social-media-algorithms-work-today/
Instagram's search algorithm operates based on personal activity. The mix of photo, video, and story results depend on the people you follow and the posts you like. As your activity changes, so will your search results.
"Extremist Use of Social Media" The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, 2017 https://jsis.washington.edu/news/extremist-use-social-media/
International terrorist groups, such as ISIS, use the Internet to great effect, recruiting potential members and communicating about attacks. Extremist Internet use includes savvy social media and mobile technology use. In response, the U.S. government has asked technology companies to help it manage this problem through the use of content moderation, content monitoring, and providing law enforcement with backdoors into products.
"The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists" National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, 2017 https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIRUS_UseOfSocialMediaByUSExtremists_ResearchBrief_July2018.pdf
Lone actors (i.e. individuals who were operationally alone in their extremist activities) in the PIRUS data were particularly active on social media. From 2005-2016, social media played a role in the radicalization and mobilization processes of 68.12% of the lone actors in the PIRUS data. In 2016 alone, social media factored into the radicalization and mobilization processes of 88.23% of the lone actors in the PIRUS data. By comparison, from 2005-2016, social media factored into the radicalization of 50.15% of individuals who were members of extremist groups or radical cliques.
"The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists" National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, 2017 https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIRUS_UseOfSocialMediaByUSExtremists_ResearchBrief_July2018.pdf
Lone actors (i.e. individuals who were operationally alone in their extremist activities) in the PIRUS data were particularly active on social media. From 2005-2016, social media played a role in the radicalization and mobilization processes of 68.12% of the lone actors in the PIRUS data. In 2016 alone, social media factored into the radicalization and mobilization processes of 88.23% of the lone actors in the PIRUS data. By comparison, from 2005-2016, social media factored into the radicalization of 50.15% of individuals who were members of extremist groups or radical cliques.
Berger, J.M. "Extremist Construction of Identity: How Escalating Demands for Legitimacy Shape and Define In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics" International Center for Counter-Terrorism, April 2017 https://icct.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ICCT-Berger-Extremist-Construction-of-Identity-April-2017-2.pdf
Movements become extreme when the in-group's demand for legitimacy escalates to the point it can only be satisfied at the expense of an out-group.
Feliciano, Zachary. "Is Social Media Hindering Our Face-To-Face Socialization Skills?" Connecticut Health I-Team, August 20, 2015 http://c-hit.org/2015/08/20/is-social-media-hindering-our-face-to-face-social-skills/
Nearly half (45 percent) of teens say they sometimes get frustrated with their friends for texting, surfing the Internet or checking their social networking sites while they're hanging out together.
Walton, Alice G. "6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Health" Forbes, June 30, 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/30/a-run-down-of-social-medias-effects-on-our-mental-health/#3c3d26b12e5a
One study a few years ago found that Facebook use was linked to both less moment-to-moment happiness and less life satisfaction—the more people used Facebook in a day, the more these two variables dropped off. The authors suggest this may have to do with the fact that Facebook conjures up a perception of social isolation, in a way that other solitary activities don't.
Walton, Alice G. "6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Health" Forbes, June 30, 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/30/a-run-down-of-social-medias-effects-on-our-mental-health/#3c3d26b12e5a
One study looked at how people feel after using Facebook and how they think they'll feel going in. Like other studies suggested, the participants in this one almost always felt worse after using it, compared to people engaging in other activities. But a follow-up experiment showed that people generally believed that they'd feel better after using, not worse. Which of course turns out not to be the case at all, and sounds a lot like the pattern in other types of addiction.
Walton, Alice G. "6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Health" Forbes, June 30, 2017 https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/30/a-run-down-of-social-medias-effects-on-our-mental-health/#3c3d26b12e5a
One study looked at how we make comparisons to others posts, in "upward" or "downward" directions—that is, feeling that we're either better or worse off than our friends. It turned out that both types of comparisons made people feel worse, which is surprising, since in real life, only upward comparisons (feeling another person has it better than you) makes people feel bad. But in the social network world, it seems that any kind of comparison is linked to depressive symptoms.
"The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists" National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, 2017 https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIRUS_UseOfSocialMediaByUSExtremists_ResearchBrief_July2018.pdf
Online social media platforms are playing an increasingly important role in the radicalization processes of U.S. extremists. While U.S. extremists were slow to embrace social media, in recent years, the number of individuals relying on these user-to-user platforms for the dissemination of extremist content and the facilitation of extremist relationships has grown exponentially. In fact, in 2016 alone, social media played a role in the radicalization processes of nearly 90% of the extremists in the PIRUS data.
Fader, Sarah. "Social Media Obsession and Anxiety" Anxiety and Depression Association of America, N/A https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession
Overall, about 30% of those who use social media spend more than 15 hours per week online.
Fader, Sarah. "Social Media Obsession and Anxiety" Anxiety and Depression Association of America, N/A https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession
Researchers have found that using social media obsessively causes more than just anxiety. In fact, testing has found that using too much internet can cause depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impulsive disorder, problems with mental functioning, paranoia, and loneliness.
Anderson, Janna and Raine, Lee. "The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World" Pew Research Center, April 17, 2018 https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-being/
Rich Salz, principal engineer at Akamai Technologies, commented, "We have already seen some negative effects, including more isolation, less ability to focus, more ability to be deceived by bad actors (fake news) and so on. I do not see those lessening. Sadly."
Anderson, Janna and Raine, Lee. "The Future of Well-Being in a Tech-Saturated World" Pew Research Center, April 17, 2018 https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/04/17/concerns-about-the-future-of-peoples-well-being/
Rob Reich, professor of political science at Stanford University, said, "If the baseline for making a projection about the next today is the current level of benefit/harm of digital life, then I am willing to express a confident judgment that the next decade will bring a net harm to people's well-being.
Feliciano, Zachary. "Is Social Media Hindering Our Face-To-Face Socialization Skills?" Connecticut Health I-Team, August 20, 2015 http://c-hit.org/2015/08/20/is-social-media-hindering-our-face-to-face-social-skills/
Seventy-five percent of teens currently have a social networking profile, and 51 percent visit that social networking site daily.
Saltman, Erin Marie. "How Young People Join Violent Extremist Groups — and How to Stop Them" TED, 2017 https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_marie_saltman_how_young_people_join_violent_extremist_groups_and_how_to_stop_them/discussion?referrer=playlist-the_roots_of_extremism
So I want to talk a little bit about ISIS, Daesh, because they have been a game changer in how we look at these processes, and through a lot of the material and their tactics. They're very much a modern movement. One of the aspects is the internet and the usage of social media, as we've all seen in headlines tweeting and videos of beheadings. But the internet alone does not radicalize you. The internet is a tool. You don't go online shopping for shoes and accidentally become a jihadist. However, what the Internet does do is it is a catalyst.
Fader, Sarah. "Social Media Obsession and Anxiety" Anxiety and Depression Association of America, N/A https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession
Social media anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that is similar to social anxiety disorder. In fact, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States.
"What are Known Violent Extreme Groups?" FBI, N/A https://www.fbi.gov/cve508/teen-website/what-are-known-violent-extremist-groups
Some animal rights extremists and environmental extremists believe violence is needed to stop those they think are hurting animals or the environment. These violent extremists usually don't seek to kill or injure people, but their crimes—which include property damage, vandalism, threats, cyber attacks, arson, and bombings—have caused millions of dollars in damages and disrupted the lives of many Americans. Violent animal rights extremists attack those they believe are linked to the abuse of animals. Typical targets include the fur industry, companies and individuals involved in animal research, and businesses that ship animals. Violent environmental extremists target those they believe are destroying the environment, such as businesses and individuals involved in construction or automobile sales.
Reality Check Team. "Social Media: How can Governments Regulate it?" BBC News, February 7, 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47135058
Some content can be automatically detected and removed before it is seen by users. In the case of terrorist propaganda, Facebook says 99.5% of all the material taken down between July and September was done by "detection technology."
Fader, Sarah. "Social Media Obsession and Anxiety" Anxiety and Depression Association of America, N/A https://adaa.org/social-media-obsession
Some symptoms include: Lying to others about how much time you spend on social media Withdrawal from friends and family Trying to stop or reduce your use of social media more than once before without being successful Loss of interest in other activities
"Extremist Use of Social Media" The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, 2017 https://jsis.washington.edu/news/extremist-use-social-media/
Technology companies have attempted to assist the government in many of its requests, but also often "push back" over concerns that the government's desire to monitor potential terrorists will lead to ordinary consumers' rights to privacy and expression being violated. Law in the U.S. around this issue remains undeveloped.
Reality Check Team. "Social Media: How can Governments Regulate it?" BBC News, February 7, 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47135058
That view is echoed by the children's commissioner for England, Anne Longfield. She has also called for the government to make it clear that social media companies have a duty of care for children using their sites."It would mean online providers like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and others would owe a duty to take all reasonable and proportionate care to protect children from any reasonably foreseeable harm," she said.
Berger, J.M. "Extremist Construction of Identity: How Escalating Demands for Legitimacy Shape and Define In-Group and Out-Group Dynamics" International Center for Counter-Terrorism, April 2017 https://icct.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ICCT-Berger-Extremist-Construction-of-Identity-April-2017-2.pdf
This paper is a first step in developing and testing the hypothesis that extremist group radicalization represents an identifiable process that can be understood as distinct from the contents of a movement's ideology. That is not to say that the content of an ideology is meaningless or unimportant. Rather, this research seeks to explore whether universal processes of radicalization provide a more useful window into why identity-based extremist movements form in the first place and how they evolve toward violence.
Saltman, Erin Marie. "How Young People Join Violent Extremist Groups — and How to Stop Them" TED, 2017 https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_marie_saltman_how_young_people_join_violent_extremist_groups_and_how_to_stop_them/discussion?referrer=playlist-the_roots_of_extremism
We have amazing activists all over the world, but oftentimes, their messages are not strategic or they don't actually reach the audiences they want to reach. So we work with networks of former extremists. We work with networks of young people in different parts of the world. And we work with them to bring the tech sector to the table with artists and creatives and marketing expertise so that we can actually have a more robust and challenging of extremism that works together.
