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Abstract
Terrorism portrayal through mass media continues to be unabated and has caught the attention of the entire globe. Frequent acts of terrorism have been covered more solidly and professionally by the terrorists' organizations owing to the new technological development that has changed the structure of mass media industry. This paper seeks to examine the mass media war for the construction of an ideology on the social media by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In the process of such understanding, the paper addresses the following four questions: First, how ISIS media war was initiated, and how far it has gone. Second, what is the basic phenomenon behind ISIS media, and its objectives? Third what age groups of consumers are targeted, and how they are motivated to follow ISIS? Finally, how frequently is the ISIS manipulating the online media?
Keywords: ISIS, Media effects, Terrorism, Internet, Mass Media War, Ideology, Online Propaganda
Introduction
The new world order has not only changed the way of living and thinking but its impact is equally exhibited in the state of war. Nowadays wars are more likely to affect one's life economically, morally and mentally-unlike the old days in which the main idea was to target the head-count. With the emergence of a new era of mass media advancement and its collective effects, over the consumers' ideologies, psychology, beliefs, attitude, pattern of thinking, and myths are ultimately shaping the public's attitude by the use of theological themes to influence the public agenda (Potter, 2012). Such influences are more devastating on the public when the producer is the in-charge of media cell of terrorist organization like the ISISi. This is what actually depicted in the book titled Islamic State: According to Atwan;
"From recruitment and propaganda, to directing simultaneous military actions at great distances apart and consolidating allegiances with like-minded groups, IS has used the internet and digital communications with great skill and inventiveness, competently fending of threats from global intelligence bodies and military opponents" (Atwan, 2005).
Walker published numerous studies such as 'online terrorism and online laws' and 'Blackstone's guide to the anti-terrorism legislation' (Walker, 2014). Also, Maura Conway have researched about cyber terrorism in her work 'Reality bytes: Cyberterrorism and terrorist 'use' of the internet', 'Privacy...