A recent study has found the existence of over 50,000 fake Twitter accounts enticing young Saudi men to join terrorist groups.

The study, done by Brookings Institution and funded by Google Ideas, covers the period between September and December 2014.

A total of 46,000 accounts were used by ISIS supporters, the study revealed, with most of the participants residing in areas under the organization’s control in Syria and Iraq.

Shoura Council member and researcher on Internet technology use, Fayez Al-Shiri, views electronic terrorism as equally dangerous and harmful as traditional terrorism.

“Although electronic terrorism is in a different form, the aims and objectives are equally devastating as modern techniques are used to transform and manifest social, political and economic system,” he said.

According to Al-Shiri, the Kingdom has been exposed to fierce levels of cyber-terrorism, including attempts to penetrate public and private networks, propaganda and efforts to recruit young members via Facebook and Twitter.

The growing prevalence of social networking, as well as the ease of opening such accounts and communicating electronically, means no individual is immune to exposure to extremist ideas, he said.

“Increased public awareness on the role of an individual in his community and his duty toward his country, as well as laws that ensure the reduction in the negative effects of such online activities without compromising individual freedom, is essential to counteract such efforts.”

Idtidal Ateewi, a psychologist, advised families to monitor their children as they use computers with open access to all sites, especially as they can easily fall prey to extremists and terrorists.