In the war against misinformation and social media-inspired violence, ultimately the social media platforms are just one front. But what about the people consuming misinformation? In June America’s National Security Council unveiled a “National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism,” which argued that “pursuing the goal of preventing, disrupting, and deterring acts of domestic terrorism… can mean, broader still, cultivating the type of digital literacy that can empower the American public to resist those who would use online communications platforms and other venues to recruit, radicalize, and mobilize to violence.”
This week America’s Department of Homeland Security warned the country still faces “a diverse and challenging threat environment” including the possibility of violence “by individuals and small groups…including domestic violent extremists and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences…..These actors continue to exploit online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.”