Social media is in every part of our lives, and that now includes war. We will explore how social media platforms are being used by different actors in armed conflicts, and what are the implications for international security, human rights, and journalism.
Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok, have become powerful tools for communication, information, and influence in the 21st century. They enable people to share their stories, opinions, and experiences with millions of others around the world. They also allow people to access diverse sources of information, and to challenge official narratives and mainstream media.
However, social media platforms are not neutral or benign. They are also used for propaganda, misinformation, and manipulation by various actors in war zones. These actors include state and non-state armed groups, foreign powers, humanitarian organizations, activists, and journalists. They use social media platforms to shape public opinion, recruit supporters, mobilize resources, coordinate actions, document atrocities, expose abuses, and influence outcomes.
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Social media platforms have both positive and negative effects on war and peace. On the one hand, they can facilitate dialogue, awareness, solidarity, and accountability among different stakeholders. They can also empower marginalized voices, expose human rights violations, and support peacebuilding efforts. On the other hand, they can fuel polarization, hatred, violence, and extremism among different groups. They can also spread false or misleading information, incite attacks, undermine trust, and disrupt peace processes.
Some examples of social media being used in war are:
The Islamic State (IS) used social media platforms to spread its ideology, recruit fighters, raise funds, and claim responsibility for attacks. It also used social media platforms to broadcast gruesome videos of executions and beheadings.
The Syrian Civil War has been dubbed as the “YouTube War” because of the extensive use of social media platforms by various parties to document the conflict, report on the situation, and appeal for help. Social media platforms have also been used to spread misinformation and propaganda by different factions.
The 2014 Gaza War saw a massive online campaign by both Israel and Hamas to win the hearts and minds of the international community. Both sides used social media platforms to share their narratives, justify their actions, and mobilize support. They also engaged in cyberattacks and online trolling against each other.
The 2016 US Presidential Election was influenced by the interference of Russia through social media platforms. Russia used social media platforms to spread fake news, sow discord, and undermine trust in the democratic process. It also used social media platforms to support the candidacy of Donald Trump and discredit Hillary Clinton.
The use of social media platforms in war is not a new phenomenon. However, it has become more widespread and sophisticated in recent years. The emergence of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes (synthetic media), drones (unmanned aerial vehicles), and cyberattacks (malicious online activities), has increased the opportunities and challenges for using social media platforms in war. These technologies can enhance the capabilities and reach of social media users but also pose serious threats to their security and credibility.
The use of social media platforms in war raises important ethical, legal, and policy questions. How can we ensure that social media platforms are used responsibly and accountably in war? How can we protect the rights and safety of social media users in war zones? How can we verify the authenticity and accuracy of social media content in war? How can we prevent or counter the harmful effects of social media platforms on war and peace? How can we promote the positive effects of social media platforms on war and peace?
These questions require urgent attention from all stakeholders involved in war and peace. Social media platforms are not only a reflection of reality but also a shaper of reality. They have the potential to make war more transparent but also more complex. They have the potential to make peace more possible but also more fragile. We need to understand how social media platforms are changing the nature and dynamics of war and peace in order to harness their opportunities and mitigate their risks.