When we talk about the radicalization of terrorists, we often do so in the context of various online communities that attempt to brainwash individuals to fight for their warped cause.  Research from Leiden University suggests this general narrative may be significantly overplaying the importance of such communities in the recruitment of potential terrorists.

Indeed, the author argues that terrorists who do utilize the internet seem to be less successful than those using other approaches.  They analyzed data on just over 200 known IS terrorists in the United States.  These individuals had been identified as a member of IS and had charges brought against them.  They also have been in contact with other members of the group.

The analysis showed that the internet is understandably used heavily by terrorists, which is perhaps not surprising, but there were distinctions forming when their offline behavior was added to the mix.

“I saw that people who used the internet were nearly always members of terrorist networks offline too,” the author explains. “The image of someone sitting at their computer in their bedroom and falling completely under the spell of terrorist propaganda doesn’t stand up therefore.”

In plain sight

The author highlights how policymakers are often keen to remove terrorist content from social media, but that this can have unintended consequences, as when they are engaging on public networks, such as Facebook, then they are much easier to find than if they’re interacting via private networks or encrypted apps.  If we assume that terrorists will exist in some form or other, the question is do you want them to engage where they can at least be seen and monitored?

The author also believes it would be a mistake to pin too much blame on networks like Facebook or YouTube as they are not ultimately responsible for the radicalization of people.

“It definitely happens, but online radicalization isn’t as big as we think it is,” they conclude. “Other reasons why people become terrorists are then forgotten: a personal network, for instance, or growing up in a certain neighborhood. It’s too easy for politicians to point the finger at YouTube and Facebook. But this allows them to ignore major social problems, like racism and Jihadi networks.”