Brookings Institution released a study detailing one of their most effective methods of recruiting

foreign fighters: social media. So what other modern recruiting tactics is ISIS using? And

why are they so effective?

ISIS uses several popular digital media platforms like Twitter, Youtube, Whatsapp, Sound Cloud,

JustPasteIt, Instagram, and Facebook to reach out to potential recruits. The Brookings Institution

estimates that on Twitter alone, ISIS supporters run about 50 thousand accounts, and post almost

a hundred thousand messages about ISIS per day.

ISIS is adept at modern marketing techniques. They produce expensive and highly stylized

videos targeted towards specific audiences in different languages. In a video by the

Al-Hayat, a white Canadian jihadist in his 20s encourages

other westerners to join up. In other videos, directed towards more local recruits, ISIS

propaganda stresses their religious duty above all else. Recently, ISIS released a video

with sign language, meant to attract deaf and mute people to their ranks.

The ads are all meant to appeal to young people, and they are distributed through relatively

“new” platforms of communication. Ads with kittens and internet jokes - these humanize

jihadists and show the viewer an idyllic life in Syria - fighting for an oppressed community.

In short, ISIS videos make jihad look alluring and meaningful.

This portrayal, coupled with their deft use of social media and propaganda, could be why

so many foreign fighters have joined the ranks of ISIS.

If you want to learn more about ISIS, make sure you check out our full playlist of videos

right here, including this one about the symbolism of their flag. There’s a link to that video

in the description below, please check it out now. Thanks for watching TestTube, let

us know if there are any questions you want us to look into!