TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of social media on domestic terrorism
AU - Hunter, Lance Y.
AU - Biglaiser, Glen
AU - McGauvran, Ronald J.
AU - Collins, Leann
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Society for Terrorism Research.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Much qualitative research has drawn an association between social media and domestic terrorism, with the studies reaching different conclusions. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether the surge in social media participation affects domestic terrorist events. Controlling for common explanations in the literature, we conduct a cross-national, time-series analysis of up to 151 countries from 2000 to 2019 to assess the impact of social media penetration on domestic terrorism. We find that greater social media penetration increases the likelihood of domestic terrorism in countries as it supports extremists’ ability to recruit, mobilize, and train terrorists. Using mediation analysis, we also find that greater social media penetration amplifies online and political polarization, increasing the likelihood of domestic terrorism events. Our work indicates the possible mechanisms linking social media and domestic terrorism and the need to develop and apply appropriate counterterrorism strategies to mitigate terrorist operations.
AB - Much qualitative research has drawn an association between social media and domestic terrorism, with the studies reaching different conclusions. However, few empirical studies have evaluated whether the surge in social media participation affects domestic terrorist events. Controlling for common explanations in the literature, we conduct a cross-national, time-series analysis of up to 151 countries from 2000 to 2019 to assess the impact of social media penetration on domestic terrorism. We find that greater social media penetration increases the likelihood of domestic terrorism in countries as it supports extremists’ ability to recruit, mobilize, and train terrorists. Using mediation analysis, we also find that greater social media penetration amplifies online and political polarization, increasing the likelihood of domestic terrorism events. Our work indicates the possible mechanisms linking social media and domestic terrorism and the need to develop and apply appropriate counterterrorism strategies to mitigate terrorist operations.
KW - Social media
KW - domestic terrorism
KW - mediation analysis
KW - political polarization
KW - social media penetration
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U2 - 10.1080/19434472.2022.2160001
DO - 10.1080/19434472.2022.2160001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85145488322
SN - 1943-4472
JO - Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression
JF - Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression
ER -