Title: How Social Media is Changing Conflict · Peace Science Digest
Headings: How Social Media is Changing Conflict
How Social Media is Changing Conflict
Talking Points
Summary
Contemporary Relevance
Practical Implications
Continued Reading
Footnotes

Content: It is no question that social media matters. The extent of the influence of social media on conflict and political struggle and the mechanisms at play still needs to be captured more systematically. In this article, the author presents a framework to understand how social media can influence political conflict on the level of the elites as well as mass-level collective action. On the level of collective action, the author’s review of literature suggests there is strong evidence that social media can raise awareness and the importance of protest and facilitates groups getting “their story” out. Communication is assisted by social media through the exchange of information, the exposure of wrongdoing by elites, and mobilization and coordination of protest. Connections between activists are made easier, coordination and communication are less costly. Moreover, potential allies and activists can be targeted and recruited—a point primarily examined in the context of political violence and radicalization (e.g. ISIS), but also in the context of nonviolent social movements (e.g. the 2017 Women’s March). Less focus, according to the author, has been placed on how elites/leaders use social media. This is surprising, given that leaders and governments are heavily active on social media to campaign, to gather support for their issues at home and abroad, and to influence and/or bypass traditional media. Such broad and disparate findings make it important to provide a conceptual framework on the impact of social media on conflict.