We spent a lot of time in class talking about social media, like facebook, twitter, tumblr- how they keep us connected and involved in the lives of people around us. But does social media have an impact on violent crime in any way? We know facebook can make groups, and twitter you can tag anyone in it that you need to, so long as it's under 160 characters, and no one has to know what you're planning or talking about, depending on the privacy of whatever site and account you're using. Could these be too-helpful aids in planning violent crimes?
Here's an example: during the Riots in England this year, the British government threatened to track all suspicious tweets, even text messages- does this mean the riots were being planned online? No, not necessarily, but social media sites could have been a part of it, absolutely.
What do you think? Are social media sites catalysts to violent crime? Could they be? Do you know any times where they definitely have been?
I'm not exactly sure if social media acts as a catalyst to violent crime, but I definitely think people can abuse it and use it in hurtful ways. Take cyber bullying for example; people sometimes use social media sites like Facebook to pick on others, and things often escalate more quickly in forums in which people aren't speaking face-to-face. The Internet also makes it easier for people looking to commit violent acts to get in touch with each other, perhaps through online hate groups. We must exercise caution and prudence when using social media sites, especially because a suspicious tweet or status update that we see could hint at something more serious than we expect.
ReplyDeleteI think social media can help others see what their friends, acquaintances and even family are up to. But, besides that it also keeps them connected with either opinions on politics or social issues. I think this can actually have an impact on violent crime. People can be persuaded easily if they do not know all the facts about something, and I'm sure many young kids who think they're making a difference in society are sure to follow those who believe they are standing up for a righteous cause.
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