Roundtable luncheon explores ISIS’s use of social media

salvetoday Posted On November 19, 2014
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The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy will explore the power that social media networks wield in the face of international conflict during a roundtable discussion scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21 in the Miley Hall executive dining room.

Challenging the power of traditional news outlets, social media networks have given those involved in international conflicts access to rapid-fire distribution methods and a worldwide audience.

But as extremist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (also called ISIS or ISIL) use YouTube, Twitter and other social media networks to distribute violent content that some call visual terrorism, a number of questions arise:

  • Do social media companies have a responsibility to police such content?
  • If so, what form would that responsibility take?
  • In the hands of media-savvy groups, can these networks even be managed?
  • For those in the United States, how would efforts to control such content square with a commitment at home to First Amendment rights?

The discussion will be led by Dr. Donna Harrington-Lueker, professor in the Department of English and Communications.

Roundtable discussions are open to Salve Regina students, faculty and staff, and lunch is provided. As space is extremely limited, those interested in attending should RSVP to pellcenter@salve.edu.