SOCIAL MEDIA–A REAL SOURCE OF PROLIFERATION OF
                   INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM


                    Mihaela Marcu, Hyperion University of Bucharest, Romania
              Cristina Bălteanu, Babeş – Bolyai University of Cluj–Napoca, Romania


ABSTRACT: Although in 2011 there were registered the fewest terrorist attacks since 2007, the
groups involved in such acts significantly expanded geographically, this being due to the use of
modern technologies and, implicitly, the use of social networks. Thus, the terrorist organizations have
developed quickly by using at larger scale new methods of communication and information, these
giving them the ability to communicate over long distances and in a safe way. In this context, this
paper had as the main objective the analysis of the role and the implications of social media in the
proliferation of terrorism. The results of the study showed an increased presence of extremist groups
in the virtual world of the Internet, 9 of 10 cases of organized terrorism on the Internet being based
on social media.

Keywords: social media, international terrorism

JEL Codes: L82, O33, K14, K42