Really interesting data on social media use by U.S. extremists from @START_UMD's PIRUS project. Some takeaways: start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIR…
1. Even in the age of social media, in-person interaction is still an extremely important part of radicalization. Three-quarters of extremists in the dataset who used social media did so to supplement face-to-face relationships.
2. Based on these data, the effect of social media usage on attempts to use violence is indeterminate at best. This suggests social media is playing a different role—I'd posit it's fulfilling needs for belonging & making sense of the world. May or may not mandate violence.
