Mobility and migration generally is a good thing however in some cases the ability to move effortlessly can have serious consequences. Most dangerously is in regards to the spread of terrorism. Terrorist groups such as ISIS can be just as threatening using weapons as they are when using social media to persuade men, women and children to join their cause. Although there are many great things about social media there is a dark side that is extremely dangerous and powerful.
ISIS can communicate with people over social media extremely easily. Mobility and migration becomes dangerous when terrorist groups like ISIS are able to use social media to recruit law-abiding citizens. Once they are recruited, there is no just cause to prevent them from moving and migrating to other countries, because they are law-abiding citizens. This becomes a problem because once a person has been recruited through social media, there is nothing stopping them from migrating to other countries. ISIS is appealing to citizens that are typically Muslims, who feel that they lack a sense of belonging or opportunity in the US or other countries. Often times even second generation immigrants have a romanticized version of their countries of origin. This leads them to believe that the answer to all their problems is to return to the Middle East and join ISIS. Through this as well as exploiting and manipulating these people’s strong religious values ISIS is able to recruit them. None of the recruitment would be possible if it was not for the changes in mobility and migration as a result of globalization.
Social media can be a great thing as it can connect people across the globe and make a long distance seem a lot shorter. Terrorist groups have learned that social media can be a great outlet for recruitment. Recruitment videos using propaganda to solicit potential terrorists have been popping up around the world. Often times now ISIS recruiters try to appear benign and relatable on the Internet. They have used the major sites, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter however their primary sight seems to be Ask.fm. Ask.fm allows a level anonymity that is favorable to recruiters and although the site tries to put an end to such activity they say it is difficult to stay ahead of such efforts. In a CNN article outlining such issues they look at an ISIS recruiters profile on Ask.fm and in his bio along with a cut of picture, it simply says “I’m just like you.” Social media has made terrorist recruitment both easier and effective.
When terrorist groups are recruiting in America they often seek to target individuals that are vulnerable and lack opportunity or a sense of belonging. Many second-generation immigrants with ties to the Middle East and northern Africa feel that they do not belong in the US and they have a Romanticized view of their home country. This is one of ISIS’s recruiting techniques is designed to persuade second-generation immigrants that their parents were wrong to leave their country of origin and that the Middle East is a great place to live and a place where it is acceptable to practice your religion freely with not restrictions. They feel that if you go back and join a group like ISIS they will achieve a sense of belonging.
ISIS can communicate with people over social media extremely easily. Mobility and migration becomes dangerous when terrorist groups like ISIS are able to use social media to recruit law-abiding citizens. Once they are recruited, there is no just cause to prevent them from moving and migrating to other countries, because they are law-abiding citizens. This becomes a problem because once a person has been recruited through social media, there is nothing stopping them from migrating to other countries. ISIS is appealing to citizens that are typically Muslims, who feel that they lack a sense of belonging or opportunity in the US or other countries. Often times even second generation immigrants have a romanticized version of their countries of origin. This leads them to believe that the answer to all their problems is to return to the Middle East and join ISIS. Through this as well as exploiting and manipulating these people’s strong religious values ISIS is able to recruit them. None of the recruitment would be possible if it was not for the changes in mobility and migration as a result of globalization.
Social media can be a great thing as it can connect people across the globe and make a long distance seem a lot shorter. Terrorist groups have learned that social media can be a great outlet for recruitment. Recruitment videos using propaganda to solicit potential terrorists have been popping up around the world. Often times now ISIS recruiters try to appear benign and relatable on the Internet. They have used the major sites, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter however their primary sight seems to be Ask.fm. Ask.fm allows a level anonymity that is favorable to recruiters and although the site tries to put an end to such activity they say it is difficult to stay ahead of such efforts. In a CNN article outlining such issues they look at an ISIS recruiters profile on Ask.fm and in his bio along with a cut of picture, it simply says “I’m just like you.” Social media has made terrorist recruitment both easier and effective.
When terrorist groups are recruiting in America they often seek to target individuals that are vulnerable and lack opportunity or a sense of belonging. Many second-generation immigrants with ties to the Middle East and northern Africa feel that they do not belong in the US and they have a Romanticized view of their home country. This is one of ISIS’s recruiting techniques is designed to persuade second-generation immigrants that their parents were wrong to leave their country of origin and that the Middle East is a great place to live and a place where it is acceptable to practice your religion freely with not restrictions. They feel that if you go back and join a group like ISIS they will achieve a sense of belonging.
This is a graph from the Business Insider of where ISIS recruitment has gotten people to join from.
-All of us
-All of us