Who does not have a social media account in today’s world? Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook might as well be required in common job resumes. Social media can be used in unique ways. Despite the hundreds of millions of accounts across the multiple different platforms, views on social media are staggered. Millions use the form of social media as a way for their daily news. Social media has begun to have a larger impact on just news. Topics such as domestic terrorism and the conspiracy theories revolving around the world. Can the media impact these? Terrorist organizations have begun to use social media, but at the end of the day the media can only promote views not actually make someone believe in them. According to a study conducted in European universities concerning a survey about conspiracy theories in social media discussions, “students treat social media as a news source, furthermore they trust social media more than the traditional mass media.”  

Conspiracy is everywhere and will always be present. The reliability of these theories and the media platforms that present them is questionable. No matter the contrasting views on whatever topic is at stake, whether the media can be trusted as a reliable source is the underlying question. Social media is not even related to the topic of domestic terrorism and conspiracy theories. Sure, the media presents a lot of information and a lot of different things, but how could ESPN’s Instagram account contribute to these things.  

 

Domestic terrorism is defined as “a person engages in domestic terrorism if they do an act “dangerous to human life” that is a violation of the criminal laws of a state or the United States, if the act appears to be intended to:  (i) intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping.  Additionally, the acts have to occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States and if they do not, may be regarded as international terrorism.” Within the last twenty years, this has been an increasing problem especially since the horrific acts of 9/11. The impact of media in general was seen on that very day. Even though the media is very different than it was back then in 2001, immediately the scene was broadcasted on national television. That very day is remembered by many just for the infamous Today Show coverage of the event. Although this does not show the contribution of social media to domestic terrorism, it lays out the concrete foundation that media has in the reception of news.  

Conspiracy theories are scattered all throughout the media. There is a certain ring to the tone of the topic that grabs the eye of the reader. In a study that surveyed conspiracy theories and social media discussions, overseen by the International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics. “Conspiracy theories have maintained the interest of people because of their enticing narratives clouded by mystery and suspense. However, in the twenty first century, the advent of digital media has brought conspiracism as the attribution of deliberate agency to something that is more likely accidental or unintended, therefore, it is the unnecessary assumption of conspiracy when other explorations are more probable.”(Ballas, et. al) On a platform such as Instagram, posts that are titled “Conspiracy,” or “Unclassified,” have always grabbed the eye. Given the validity of the topic is questionable or the beliefs but the popularity is there no debate.  

There are tactics used in media to distort perception to earn more money or gain attention. Is social media a reliable source for news? Can you depend on a verified account for global and important news? Political campaigns are broadcasted through the media hopefully gaining votes. Social media can influence not only who becomes the next elected governor, and who you decide to vote for. Advertisements and promotions create revenue for the applications. Putting forth the money for an advertisement can earn one more set of eyes to manipulate or win over. Ultimately, the media can spiral on stories, alter facts, question the reality of the situation and bend the truth severely. The impact social media has on our world is unequivocal and this impact certainly pertains to the concept conspiracy theories and domestic terrorism. 

Terrorism still looms over our world today, sadly. Princeton University graduate Louis René Beres believes extremist organizations such as ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban all use social media to their advantage. In an article published in the Yale Global Online, Beres examines the normality of terrorists. According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “violent extremists use social media too distribute propaganda, select targets, recruit followers and incite violence.”  

James A. Piazza a liberal arts professor of political science at the Pennsylvania State University theorizes that propagation of disinformation through social media drives domestic terrorism. Piazza believes that social media not only contributes to conspiracy theories, but that social media is the driving force. In the article Piazza examines the conspiracy theory “Pizzagate.” “During the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election season a bizarre conspiracy theory had made its way through the circuits of alt-right websites and social media communities. Dubbed Pizzagate, the conspiracy theory held that hacked emails from the Clinton campaign that were published by WikiLeaks contained coded messages regarding a clandestine human trafficking and child sex ring controlled by prominent Democratic Party operatives and run through D.C. restaurants like Comet Ping Pong.” (Piazza, 2021) After reading this article a man invaded the Comet Ping Pong with an armed AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and fired shots. This example exemplifies the impact of social media on conspiracy theories. After seeing or reading the alleged Pizza gate theory, a man was convinced to take extreme measures and almost commit an act of domestic terrorism. This man, Edgar Maddison Welch was obviously arrested after the fact and stated he had been reading about Pizza gate for days online.  

In conclusion, social media platforms are used by hundreds of millions of people everyday almost every hour. The reach of these platforms is indescribable and the impact they have had on the modernization of our world is clear. Phone usage is through the roof. Despite your opinions on social media, there is no question that it has changed the way the world functions. Due to the vast reach of these platforms social media has given life and helped contribute to many different conspiracy theories. Social media platforms have fueled these theories and have shown the gullibility of some and the manipulation of others. Social media has not only become the main source of news for many, but also their core beliefs. Terrorist organizations have exploited this using the many platforms as a means of communication, recruitment, and propaganda. The alteration social media has on conspiracy theories is evident and the contribution if not the start of some domestic terrorism situations is explicit.