Online Gang Recruitment: Using Technology for Detection and Intervention

iKeepSafe supports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) mission to prevent violent behavior through reducing factors that increase risk, and increasing factors that promote resilience. We endorse their commitment to accomplish prevention through “all levels of  influence: individual, relationship, community, and societal” [1]. We hope to empower parents, educators, and mentors to use technology as a tool for identifying risk and promoting resilience within their own communities.

With an internet connection, gang organizations can extend the audience for cyberbanging, or online gang activity, to thousands. Cyberbanging videos or webpages can be completely anonymous and used to recruit young people into their organization. Youtube and social networking sites are just some of the platforms gangs use to promote their groups. The online medium plus adolescents who feel marginalized, bullied, or misunderstood equals an explosively successful advertising scheme. And, a dangerous situation for young people.

Using Youtube, gangs can showcase guns, money, music, women, and an assortment of appealing benefits to joining. With Facebook and other social networking sites, gang members don’t need to talk to recruits face to face, they can simply use the chat feature and be-friend curious or at-risk youth who wander onto (or “like”) their page.

If parents and mentors are aware of the risk factors and warning signs for gang recruitment and involvement—they can successfully help young people make positive choices for connection within their communities both on and offline.

Risk Factors

• Involvement in high-risk behavior (i.e. drugs/alcohol, promiscuous sexual activity).
• Having friends/family who are involved in gangs.
• Lack of stable family.
• Lack of positive connections at school. [2]

Warning Signs

• Web history of visiting gang pages on Facebook, Youtube, or other web sites.
• Posting gang symbols on social networking sites, blogs, lockers, books, clothing, etc.
• Loss of interest in friends and family.
• Changing friends.
• Carrying weapons or large amounts of cash.
• Getting arrested.
• Truancy.
• Drug/Alcohol abuse. [2]

If young people are interested in joining or already participating in a gang, they will most likely reveal warning signs in social networking pages, blog posts, twitter feeds, etc. For example, a 14-year old boy might join a Facebook fan page for the MS-13 gang, or post a video of a gang initiation on YouTube.

Parents, educators, and mentors should familiarize themselves with common gang insignia (resources here and here) and carefully watch for other warning signs. When witnessed, these warning signs should be taken very seriously to help young people get the support they need.

Upstander Action

Reduce Risk Factors
Help at-risk youth feel connected at school and with their families. Promote educational programs that encourage youth to fight peer or family pressure to join a gang. Use the online world to connect with at-risk youth—use this as a medium to recruit at-risk youth into positive, empowering activities.

Increase Factors for Prevention
Encourage positive online activities, and whenever possible, emphasize the connection between online behavior and offline safety. Encourage young people to be involved in constructive online groups and pursuits (e.g., blogs which promote their interests within the community or school, peer tutoring, Habitat for Humanity, 4-H, etc.)—especially if these directly affect your local community.

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, August 24). Suicide: Prevention Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/prevention.html
2. National Crime Prevention Council. (n.d.). Strategy: Gang Prevention Through Community Intervention with High-Risk Youth. Retrieved from http://www.ncpc.org/programs/celebrate-safe-communities/csc-electronic-media-kit/Gang%20Fact%20Sheet%20-adult2-pdf.pdf
3. New Jersey Office of the Attorney General—Juvenile Justice Commission. (n.d.). Gang Awareness Guide: Recognize the Signs. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/oag/gang-signs-bro.pdf
4. National Gang Intelligence Center. (2009). National Gang Threat Assessment 2009. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/national-gang-threat-assessment-2009-pdf