Web-savvy militants fighting for the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq could control as many as 90,000 Twitter accounts worldwide , allowing them to spread their sickening propaganda with ease . The terror group is able to 'exert an outsized impact on how the world perceives it ' because of its shrewd use of social media and sheer number of online followers , terror experts have concluded . Recommendations in the report by the Washington-based Brookings Institute report include governments and social media companies working together to find new ways to tackle the problem of pro-ISIS accounts spreading horrific murder videos and images and jihadist rhetoric . Power : ISIS militants ( pictured ) are able to 'exert an outsized impact on how the world perceives it ' because of its shrewd use of social media and sheer number of online followers , experts have concluded . The report , by Brookings academic JM Berger and technologist Jonathon Morgan , says : 'While we do not believe that any mainstream social media platform wishes to see its services used to further acts of horrific violence , we also suspect some would rather not be bothered with the challenge of crafting a broad and coherent response to the issue . 'While we can sympathise with the challenges and dilemmas such a response would entail , it is clear that social media companies do feel an obligation to respond to some social standards and illegal uses of their services . 'We are not aware of any major company that takes a hands-off approach to the use of its platform to promote child pornography or human trafficking - or , less dramatically , phishing , spam , fraud , and copyright violations . 'Extremism , while raising thornier issues , merits attention , especially when faced with a rising challenge of violent groups who manipulate platforms to reap the rewards of spreading images of their cruelty . ' Showboating : ISIS terrorists use social media to boast of the organisation 's victories and territorial gains . The study of ISIS-linked accounts between September and December estimated there were between 46,000 and 70,000 IS-supporting Twitter accounts , with the researchers believing that the true figure was towards the lower end of this scale but setting an absolute maximum at 90,000 . It argues that the problem also applies to other social networks and extremist groups such as far-right organisations . Brookings ' analysis was based on 'robust ' data collected about 50,000 accounts , and partial information about a further 1.9 million . Only a small number of the accounts were able to have their locations identified , as most had this function switched off . But of those that could be located , the vast majority were in the Middle East and North Africa . Other were found in the UK , France , Spain , Italy , Switzerland , Belgium and Australia , but these numbers were in single figures , the report found . They noted that platforms including Facebook and YouTube have already introduced changes aimed at tackling extremist material . Horror : The militants also use social media to share barbaric images of atrocities they commit , such as throwing men accused of being gay off the roof of high buildings . Twitter had started suspending accounts linked to ISIS by the time the research was started , but the authors said this created a new risk , arguing : 'While suspensions appear to have created obstacles to supporters joining Isis 's social network , they also isolate Isis supporters online . 'This could increase the speed and intensity of radicalisation for those who do manage to enter the network , and hinder organic social pressures that could lead to deradicalisation . 'Further study is required to evaluate the unintended consequences of suspension campaigns and their attendant trade-offs . Fundamentally , tampering with social networks is a form of social engineering , and acknowledging this fact raises many new , difficult questions . 'Social media companies and the US government must work together to devise appropriate responses to extremism on social media . 'Although discussions of this issue often frame government intervention as an infringement on free speech , in reality , social media companies currently regulate speech on their platforms without oversight or disclosures of how suspensions are applied . '
Militants use social media to 'impact on how the world perceives ISIS ' They spread propaganda online and use social networks for recruitment . one of Twitter accounts are currently controlled by ISIS . As soon as Tens of thousands account is deleted , the terrorists set another Tens of thousands up . Information was revealed in a new report by US-based Brookings Institute .