The Role of Social Media Platforms in Instigating Extremist Ideology among Youths

Abstract

Technological developments in the media and their diversity have enriched freedom of expression, expanded the scope of societal dialogue, and opened a wide space for the emergence of various ideas, both sound and deviant. Among these ideas is extremist ideology. Intellectual extremism is a profound and destructive problem for society, as it leads to the destruction of the basic structure of society. Intellectual extremism targets young people in particular and is considered a tool for destroying and sabotaging the state, rather than protecting and developing it. Social media, in particular, has found an opportunity to achieve the desired spread, free from societal and legal oversight. This research paper aims to identify the role of social media platforms in instigating extremist ideology and the most prominent motives and implications of this ideology.