Social Media's Influence On Terrorism

The media can play a vital role in a terrorist attack. Relationships need to be built between the emergency manager, the fire service, police force, and emergency medical system, with the media. These prior relationships allow for everyone to be on the same page and get the factual and correct message to the public. “Increased nationwide media coverage of disasters and emergencies of all types became the norm by the late 1980s” (Sylves, 2008). The media keeps to public informed of the situation and can be a great asset in assisting emergency managers in getting the publics response. The media needs have a relationship with all emergency agencies, involved in terrorist reporting, and have a continued interaction of factual information to the public.
One issue with the media reporting on these attacks is the thought that this reporting only spreads fear and also encourages more violence. This leads many to believe that by publicizing a terrorist attack another individual or group may be encouraged to act in the same manner in order to harness the same level of attention sought to push their particular agenda. This becomes increasingly important to have these prior relationships with the media to insure that the …show more content…
Social media can at times encourage terrorist with a constant outlet of information or the spread of their propaganda. This sparks debate and conversation amongst people at no cost to the individual spreading their propaganda. Social media can often times sensationalize and attack with the constant effect it has on individual people and the outcry on that particular incident. On the other hand social media has a role in preventing terrorist attacks especially domestic attacks as many individuals want public knowledge of their attack and will post online their intentions, goals, and event plans. This allows or agencies such at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into and prevent these