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In 2022, Brian McQuinn and Laura Courchesne wrote, “After the Islamic State: Social Media and Armed Groups,” where they explored how various violent extremist groups utilize social media to advance their aims. Three years later, we asked Brian to revisit their analysis in light of the boom of more advanced technology, the changing hands of some of the most popular social media platforms, and more.Image: African Union Mission in Somalia (Photo by Tobin Jones)In your 2022 article, “After the Islamic State: Social Media and Armed Groups,” you argued that Western counter-terrorism entities overstated the Islamic State’s social media model in their
