Felicitas Mettner

This study examines how the Taliban utilize social media to promote their agenda and shape public opinion in Afghanistan. While traditionally opposed to modern media, the Taliban have adapted to digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and encrypted messaging apps, using them for propaganda, recruitment, and strategic messaging.

Findings indicate that the Taliban effectively exploit social media’s decentralized nature to spread war-related information, misinformation, and ideological narratives. Their messaging varies based on target audiences—using religious and nationalist rhetoric for local supporters, while crafting a moderate image for international legitimacy. Despite their success in digital communication, their strategy remains uncoordinated, presenting both strengths and limitations. This paper was written as part of a seminar at Leipzig University, where the three best contributions were selected and published.

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