SOCIAL MEDIA EFFECT ON NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

Social media is a modern phenomenon that has revolutionized life in the 21st century, especially among younger generations. The ability to make and promote quick links among people and businesses locally and worldwide, with instant access to information, offers unprecedented advantages that have captured the attention of many users. However, associated technologies have also opened new avenues for malicious criminal activities, using various social media platforms to perpetrate numerous kinds of crimes that threaten national stability and security. Their activities can pose or deliver serious threats to national security. This study investigates the impacts of social media on national security to offer an analytical view that may result in an enhanced understanding of social media use, as seen by experts in the field from Jordan. To achieve this aim, three focus group discussions were held with 36 experts in Jordan to collect qualitative data from participants. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse the qualitative data obtained from the three focus groups. The findings reveal that social media is misused to spread the following security concerns: disrupting social security, cyber terrorism, disinformation campaigns, cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, and recruiting spies and espionage. Finally, some strategies have been proposed to improve national security. This research adds to the existing knowledge based on the relationship between social media and national security. The results of this study have important implications for future governance policy formulations regarding social media usage and accessibility. Keywords: national security, social media, cyber terrorism, social security, disinformation DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.1.6