COVID-19 has not only presented many unprecedented challenges to daily lives; it has changed the violent extremism landscape in Malaysia.
Online Radicalization
Terrorists continue to attack Indonesia’s security apparatus including its military (TNI). TNI needs to heighten security measures to prevent future attacks on its personnel and installations.
With the increasing roles of mothers in terrorism and the internet as a source of indoctrination, Indonesian youths are caught in between two significant spheres of influence.
Trumping traditional media, the Islamic State in East Asia has gone digital to reach the masses.
Youths are particularly vulnerable for recruitment by extremist groups. Recent findings revealed that such vulnerabilities may be attributed to psychology rather than ideology. We explain how significance motivation may be the key to understand youth extremism.
Despite their defeat, Daesh’s propaganda is still garnering support globally. Key to this is the linguistic appeal of their messages.
Indonesian children face an increased risk of online radicalization during COVID-19. This commentary discusses the challenges to prevent such radicalization while proposing how the involvements of social influencers may be a step forward.