Al-Shabaab: Unterschied zwischen den Versionen

Al- Shabaab uses various mediums in order to expand their propaganda. Besides traditional radio, the internet is the most heavily utilized by al-Shabaab as it is the easiest and most cost-effective way to reach a large audience. As the internet is especially popular with today's youth, al- Shabaab is using online forums and chat rooms in order to recruit young followers to their cause. This has led to an influx of foreign fighters as well as funds from a variety of donors. Al-Shabaab's official website, which has since been taken-down, featured posts, videos and official statements in English, Arabic and Somali, as well as online classrooms to educate followers.

On December 7, 2011, al-Shabaab also reportedly began using the Twitter social media network. Most of al-Shabaab's messages on Twitter are in English, with authorities suggesting that they are intended for an outside audience and potential recruits in the West. The American government has stated that one of the top terrorism threats to the United States is the potential for American militants to travel to Somalia to learn to fight with the al-Shabaab and then return home to wreak havoc. Officials in the United States, where Twitter is based, are exploring legal ways to terminate the account, although they acknowledge that doing so might raise free speech concerns. American officials claim they may have authority to demand that Twitter close the al-Shabaab’s account, @HSMPress, which has attracted over eight thousand followers.

===The future of al-Shabaab===