'American Isis Twitter scene' reveals social media's power to radicalise

Study examines thriving hierarchy of 'nodes', 'amplifiers' and 'shout-outs' among Isis supporters on Twitter, where a suspended account is a 'badge of honour'

Islamic State sympathisers in America prefer Twitter to any other social media platform and use avatars of black flags, green birds and lions - including the Detroit Lions NFL team - in their online propaganda, a study has shown.

Having a Twitter account suspended has become a "badge of honour" among US-based Isis supporters, researchers found, and they are adopting increasingly sophisticated techniques to circumvent the authorities in a "never-ending cat-and-mouse game".