Do social networks lead vulnerable individuals to use violence?

After each terrorist attack, the question of Cyberspace’s responsibility for radicalization rests. Do social networks lead vulnerable individuals to use violence? Around the world, all decisions are made in this hypothesis on a causal link between presence on the Web or within networks of radical content, or even apologies for terrorism. Is the Internet guilty of this rise in radical discourse, the emergence of brutal and radical violence? There is no point in denying the obvious and it is easy to see many discriminatory, racist violent speeches that spread easily on the Net despite censorship and prohibitions. Trained and effective recruiters are present on public networks to enlist young people in their radical and violent universes. The Internet as a whole is often seen as an active centre for violent radicalization and will facilitate the proliferation of extremist ideologies. We note that extremist groups are indeed widespread on the Internet and that there is a real strategy of seduction and radical persuasion that has easily adapted to the specificities of a global digital world. There is a growing body of knowledge about how terrorists use cyberspace. In fact, as regards the impact of the media, there is a role of amplifiers of a reality that anaesthetizes consciences and makes users totally docile to radical influences. Social networks will instruct a communication scene conducive to persuasion, commitment or manipulation. The process of radicalization is a conversational process that, starting from the concerns of young people, will move towards radical and disruptive ideas that are from the perspective of indoctrination. Young people who do not have a real education in information and the media will easily be convinced, which is a factor facilitating recruitment. The Internet has gradually become the domain of hate speech. In posts, in forums, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-Semitic or Islamophobic discourses are increasing. Young people therefore see an increase in literature that trivializes hatred and violence, young people are very sensitive to these arguments, because violence between them is trivialized. Radicalization is not only a process of indoctrination, it begins with conversations based on the real concerns of young people who express their opinions and questions within social networks. Young people have a certain ease in exposing themselves to unknown people, so they will create a source of cyber violence. This ability to express oneself is used by recruiters to catch their prey and build a very strong emotional bond, leading the young person into an emotional dependence that will promote his adherence to the ideals and harmful myths proposed by the recruiter. The set of stories of radicalization is a moment of dialogue that is both a communicative and emotional moment, where the subject perceives himself as an actor who puts forward a kind of «digital seduction».

The strength of shared conspiracy ideas in radical conversations lies in three principles:

1. The conspiracy, jihadist idea that I receive is made up of the virtual relationship that I build with the manipulative subject. This relationship is unique and essential because it reveals elements hidden from others. So I am a unique being and the conspiracy idea is then validated by the strength of my relationship.

2. The mode of transmission of radical ideas, jihadists or plotters is a mode of transmission that is based on concrete examples and gives meaning to all these examples. As what you say is illustrated by this case, then the theory is valid.

3. The nature of a relationship depends on the time devoted to the communication sessions: jihadist, conspiracy and radical discourses are transmitted within long conversations often in private time, sometimes without the knowledge of others, always in times when emotion is strong. These meetings between the recruiter and the recruit are expected and the ritual is accentuated by the impossibility of knowing the source of the message. The relationship then quickly becomes addictive and this addiction reinforces the effectiveness of communication.

CB