Final answer:
The Taliban utilize strict interpretations of Islamic law, fear, and violence to influence adherence to their regime, adapting their control methods with the use of social media for wider dissemination and influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Taliban's strategies for influencing people to follow them include propagating their strict interpretation of Islamic law and suppressing opposition through fear and violence. Under their regime, women had to wear burkas and violators of their laws were severely punished. By bringing militant order to areas under their control, they were able to command obedience. The Taliban's presence in social media and the control they exert through it has become a modern tool for influence, showing an adaptation to new methods of control outside traditional physical coercion. Their goal of using Islam as a unifying force had varying success due to the diversity of Islamic practices across local groups.
The effectiveness of the Taliban's strategies lies in their ability to instill fear through the enforcement of strict laws and the consequences of not following them. Furthermore, they leveraged social media for propaganda and control, presenting a modern twist on their methods of influence. This adaptability has proven effective in both controlling and disseminating their ideology to a wider audience.