Violent Extremism: violence used to achieve political, ideological, religious or social goals Social media platforms are used as international publicity tools for spreading extremist propaganda; targeting, recruiting and radicalizing potential supporters to extremist causes; and for coordinating tactical operations among geographically dispersed operatives. The recruitment of Western and nonWestern combatants by the Islamic State Existing conflict drivers Weaponization phenomena intersect with a diverse range of societal predispositions to conflict, increasing tensions and the risk of violence. Root causes of conflict (also called structural causes or underlying causes) are context-specific, long-term or systemic causes of violent conflict that have become built into the norms, structures and policies of a society.48 Different types of root causes likely present varying degrees of susceptibility to malicious or inaccurate information on social media, but further research on whether some causes (i.e. identity-based and attitudinal/normative) are particularly susceptible to exacerbation by weaponized social media would be useful. Constructivist perspectives, particularly concerning the social construction of identity and the roles of language, norms, knowledge and symbols in the initiation and maintenance of conflict, might be useful in analyzing the influence of weaponized social media in more depth.49 Proximate digital drivers of conflict Weaponization of social media produces digital proximate drivers of conflict,50 or triggers, with distinct causal relationships and the potential to influence more people across broader geographies and with immediate impact. These drivers are relatively short-term catalysts that accentuate a conflict’s underlying causes and promote the escalation of violence.51 The following descriptions demonstrate how social media weaponization acts as an amplifier, speeding up or increasing the potential for conflict, beyond what traditional media forms have had the power to do. Social media platforms increase multiple dimensions of communication power. The international reach and ease of access of information communication technologies create much larger potential audiences for malicious and/or inaccurate information compared with legacy communication technologies. Online, this information can reach large segments of a population faster, enabling activists to organize violent or non-violent protests in real time. Violent extremists using social media platforms can easily spread messages internationally, drawing new recruits to their causes, or generating fear and sowing discord in other societies. Non-state armed groups or those engaged in intercommunal violence or armed conflicts against the state can more easily popularize their activities globally and attract support from foreign sympathizers, which can complicate and sustain internal conflicts. 48 Herbert, Siân (2017) Conflict Analysis. Governance and Social Development Resource Center. Available: https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/conflictanalysis/core-elements/ 49 Jackson, Richard (2009). Constructivism and conflict resolution, in “The Sage Handbook of Conflict Resolution,” eds. Bercovitch, J., Kremenyuk, V., and Zartman, W. London: Sage Publications. 50 So-called conflict triggers (single events that can rapidly change the intensity or direction of violent conflict) are not presented in detail in this analysis, though the speed and reach of social media platforms, and the fertile ground that they provide for rumours (especially in times of crisis) strongly supports the activating effect of trigger events. 51 Ibid (GSDRC). MERCY CORPS The Weaponization of Social Media: How social media can spark violence and what can be done about it 17