Click Here 163. Mic Drop: From banned to beloved, the Taliban’s unexpected embrace of the Internet
Sep 6, 2024
Omar Sharifi, an Afghan anthropologist, discusses the Taliban's surprising turnaround from destroying media to exploiting social media for image rehabilitation. He reveals how the group is now using slick videos and digital platforms to sway global perceptions. Topics include their strategic embrace of technology, the evolution from extremism to online influence, and the rising resistance on social media, especially from women. Sharifi provides insights into the complex dynamics of digital narratives contrasting authoritarian control and grassroots challenges.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Omar Sharifi's Journey From US to Afghanistan
- Omar Sharifi, an Afghan anthropologist, studied in the U.S. and embraced freedom he found there.
- He returned to Afghanistan to teach, witnessing both Taliban regimes and modern Afghan hopes.
Taliban's Historical Media Ban
- The original Taliban banned almost all modern media and communications including TV and the internet.
- They controlled information tightly with limited public phone access in cities.
Early Taliban Online Messaging
- Early Taliban digital messaging was long, expressionless sermons limiting audience appeal.
- Similar tactics were used by al-Qaeda leaders before more engaging content appeared later.