As information professionals, we know: the most valuable insights are often hidden
beneath the surface. I uncovered hidden digital trails of young women recruited by ISIS – not through direct keywords like #ISIS or #Jihad, but through subtle, “innocent” hashtags and cultural codes.
My journey spies after ISIS’ recruiting and manipulating young women mainly in Western Europe started back at 2015 on the fan ISIS girls on their Tumblr blogs. Nowadays I track them on TikTok.
To find information and knowledge, we must learn to search indirectly, creatively, and contextually. I call it Digital Hunting and in today’s world, it’s a skill every researcher, educator, and strategist needs.
