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Terrorism and the weaponisation of the social media

Social media use has increased dramatically over the past decade and is now a major source of information and influence. Used legitimately, it is a vital tool for communication.

Unfortunately, it can help groups and individuals with less positive intentions to promote violent ideologies, create confusion and spread fear among the general public. Terrorists use a number of methods to indoctrinate and radicalise new followers.

With the growth of the Internet and the explosion in popularity of social networking sites all over the world in recent years, terrorist groups have significantly increased their global reach. They are now able to spread propaganda and recruit half way around the world from the convenience of an Internet cafe. Terrorist groups and their members have made a concerted effort to increase their presence on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to go along with their existing Internet presence on web sites, forums, and message boards.

Editor's Comment
Block 6 shopping complex, a crime hotspot

“Try a crime you end a criminal,treat an environment you end crime.”– Abhijit Naskar, Sleepless for SocietyWhat should be a vibrant entertainment hub has instead become an area where people increasingly fear for their safety.Hardly a weekend passes without reports of people losing their valuables, vehicles being broken into or stolen, revellers being assaulted and injured, and, in the most tragic cases, people being attacked with sharp...

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