• The Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) uses of Facebook and Twitter in operation ´Protective Edge ´

Abstract

Social media has become in a powerful tool to promote sociological changes, activism and grassroots mobilization. Consequently, governments and institutions have adapted to this new reality with the intention of being part of these talks, persuading citizens and generate currents of opinion in their favor. Will this circumstance also applies when governments are involved in armed conflicts? How governments use social media? Do they use it to listen their citizens? Are social media only propaganda tools for their purposes? The present article analyses social media (official accounts in Twitter and Facebook) used by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the first fifteen days of operation Protective Edge (July, 2014). The study is based on two analysis (quantitative and qualitative) to understand types, frequency and impact of messages used in operation Protective Edge. Also, we would like to know if there are any kind of continuity or relation with the argumentation of last military operation Pillar of defense (2012).