![]() ![]() Many of the sets have names that denote affiliation with the Islamic State or, more generally, imply support for a pro-jihadist group. Sticker sets consist of a collection of individual stickers ranging anywhere from 1 to 120 images and/or text where the full set is given a name by the original creator. I archived a total of 55 sticker sets containing explicitly pro-Islamic State visuals and messages. That being said, many of the images that appear in these sets have been recycled from video propaganda already produced by official Islamic State media outlets demonstrating how centralised official productions remain integral to decentralised propaganda and receive both a wider distribution and a longer life span. The stickers containing images are designed to evoke emotions and create a reality that Stephane Baele and Charlie Winter describe as “reinforce frames and narratives put forward by IS… consistent, carefully selected and monolithic.”ĭuring my observation of public and private Telegram groups from 2018 – 2020, I noticed a certain degree of eagerness surrounding stickers: in the chats, supporters would ask each other for new stickers, seek advice on how to create their own sets, and express frustration if a set had been banned by Telegram before they could save it. At times, the array of narratives that appear may seem sporadic but, as Kathleen German writes in The Media World of ISIS, “…the appearance and inconsistency on the surface belies a more sophisticated media mixture of hard and soft messages whose complexity appeals to the target audiences.” The ability for supporters to construct their own sticker sets further decentralises propaganda efforts and it offers a creative outlet through which individuals can express their support. There are numerous reasons as to why Telegram is particularly appealing to them but an additional seemingly minor app feature adds a unique dimension: the ability for users to create their own sticker sets.Īlthough stickers consist of images and/or a limited amount text, this visual messaging works in tandem with other forms of Islamic State propaganda to convey and supplement multi-faceted propaganda narratives. Islamic State supporters are present on other platforms but they have found a fairly stable long-term home on this app despite the November 2019 coordinated campaign by Europol and Telegram to disrupt the Islamic State’s media ecosystem. A facet of this unofficial propaganda consists of online supporters’ creation and usage of Islamic State-themed stickers on the messaging app, Telegram. ![]() ![]() The dynamic encompassing nature of Islamic State propaganda includes a wide array of messaging ranging from official media (which includes weekly news releases, professional video footage, glossy magazines, and audio announcements) to unofficial supporter-created content. ![]()
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