Muslim Teens Love Surveillance Memes That Give Them a Subversive Way to Cope
March 24, 2020Both inside and outside of the digital world, Muslim youth are under constant surveillance. The omnipresence of the government’s eye can be literal federal agents posted on residential blocks or the quieter work of algorithm programs to surveil social media. Through task forces like Countering Violent Extremism, the Department of Homeland Security spent $10 million on watching Muslims in 2017. For many, the feeling of being watched takes a significant toll, and the lack of transparency inherent in government surveillance can leave people feeling powerless. To combat the everyday impacts of surveillance, Muslim youth have turned to one specific outlet: memes.