Social Media Networks and Influence in the Military

In the defence milieu, social media has been defined as “internet connected platforms and software used to collect, store, aggregate, share, process, discuss, or deliver user-generated and general media content, that can influence knowledge and perceptions and thereby directly or indirectly prompt behavior as a result of social interaction within networks” (Nissen, 2015, p. 40). Indeed, social media networks have become a critical player in the information environment, representing a platform for sharing and collecting information, as well as influencing and persuading members of the target audience in the area of operations. Social media networks have become powerful tools in information warfare, and in order for social media networks to be employed as an effective operational and/or tactical tool, it should not only be used for communication, but also engagement and interaction with the target audience. Increasingly, social media networks are being employed by non-state and state actors in modern day warfare; as a result, there is a strong rationale and need for government defence organizations and military to also operate in the same space in order to effectively optimize operational success. This presentation explores the best practices and recommendations for armed forces across the world to employ social media networks as an effective tool or resource for influence and information.