To what extent does social media cause terrorism? Introduction: – There is much debate on the exact definition of terrorism between orthodox and critical scholars – The UK defines terrorism as ‘the use or threat of action, both in and outside of the United Kingdom, designed to influence any international government organisation or to intimidate the public and for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.’ – The word ‘terrorism’, then, particularly post 9/11, can be deployed to discredit opposition movements, and draconian measures can be invoked accordingly. Saul (2007, pp. 201– 2) NOT a cause but a dynamic relationship – Reaches a wider audience – increases the impact of terrorism as more people know about it ‘News media are competitive and lucrative businesses that thrive on action and controversy. They have been known to sensationalize stories to boost ratings and have become obsessed with covering violence and scandals to grab the attention of viewers.’
