How the term “martyr” fuels terror-linked content on Meta

Meta’s policies explicitly prohibit content that supports or glorifies individuals or groups engaged in terrorism. Amid Meta’s ongoing debate over how to handle the term “martyr” (“shaheed” in Arabic), the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and Cyabra social media analytics firm conducted a study analyzing online usage of “martyr” and similar terminology in Facebook and Instagram conversations.

The primary objective was to identify the contexts in which these terms were employed and track their impact on social media discourse and real-life activities. Given the Meta Oversight Board’s recent decision to not regulate the terms “martyr” and “shaheed,“ this study aimed to equip Meta decision-makers with relevant data on how the term fueled incitement, hatred, and support for terrorism in violation of Meta’s policies.

The report found that legitimization of content about “martyrs” and “shaheeds” contributed to inspiring terror attacks, as young individuals saw these terrorists depicted as national heroes and were motivated to emulate them to achieve similar recognition. This underscores the urgent need for Meta to enforce its policies more stringently to prevent the dissemination of content that can radicalize users and perpetuate violence.

Given the public safety risks, Meta must consider banning these terms to prevent the dissemination of harmful content and preventing violence. By taking such measures, Meta can reinforce its commitment to removing content that supports or praises terrorism, ensuring a safer online environment. Due to the gravity of the challenge, Meta should implement stricter controls to stop the spread of content that glorifies terrorism and better align its platform with its policies — helping to thwart extremism and violence.