Use of Social Media in Radicalization of Muslim Youth: the Case of Eastleigh Residents in Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

Through the power of the media and the Internet's vast network of connections, radicalization and terrorism have emerged as worldwide problems. The spread of radical ideology inevitably results in anarchy, the looting and destruction of private property, and the instillation of terror in the populations of both rich and underdeveloped nations. Previous research has indicated that the great majority of radicals have advanced degrees and are actively involved in their local communities. Influence of religious figures, poverty, a lack of opportunities, and a general feeling of isolation all played significant roles in fueling radicalism. The purpose of this research was to investigate the role that participation in online social communities plays in the radicalization of young Muslim men and women living in the Eastleigh neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya. The study objectives were: to identify specific social media platforms used for the radicalization of Muslim youth in Eastleigh, to establish the popularity of each of the social media platforms in sharing radicalization messages among Eastleigh youth, to determine the messages conveyed through various social media platforms for radicalization purpose among Eastleigh youth, and to assess the effectiveness of efforts by authorities to counter social media radicalization among Eastleigh youth. In the research, both the Technological Determinism Theory and the Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) were considered. This study used a descriptive tack to the research process. An optimal sample size of 53,159 was chosen for the study. Primary data was gathered using a mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques. Interview guides and forms were used extensively. This study used SPSS version 23.0 for both qualitative and quantitative analyses of collected data. According to the results, most young people in Eastleigh believe that sites like Facebook are to blame for the radicalization of their friends. The use of instant messaging services like WhatsApp was a tactic used by internet radicals. Some respondents also mentioned using Twitter and websites/YouTube. According to the findings, most young people in Eastleigh think that radical ideas and messages are being disseminated via the Internet and social media. It has become more common for radical network groups in this area to raise funds via the use of digital payment platforms like PayPal. Researchers concluded that if people want to protect themselves from extremists and the content that can be found online that promotes radicalization and violent extremism, they need to work on improving their critical thinking skills and digital literacy. Research results informed suggestions for risk-prevention strategies and disengagement programs. Censorship, Internet surveillance, and other community-based efforts to combat CVEs fall under this category of programs. In addition, since radicalization is made more complex by the use of the internet and a variety of social media platforms, authorities have to deploy methods and countermeasures that are at least equivalent with the complexity of radicalization, if not even more complex.