Examining the Association Between Social Media and Violent Extremism: A Social Learning Approach

Abstract

In recent years, the use of social media has become more prevalent across the United States. Social media, through the use of personalization algorithms, allows for exposure to extremist content and is able to create intimate groups, where like-minded individuals can communicate with each other. This study considers that, though some traditional theorists posit that learning only occurs in face to face contexts, the elements of learning described in social learning theory may also be present online. Using a set of logistic regressions to test the association between exposure to social media and personalization algorithms and violent extremism, I find (1) exposure to social media and to personalization algorithms is positively correlated with violent extremism and (2) the relationships between exposure to social media and personalization algorithms and violent extremism are explained by age, foreign fighter status and the year of extremist behavior. I discuss the implications of these findings for theory, future research and policy.