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The Role of Online Communication Among Gang and Non-gang Youth

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Gangs in the Era of Internet and Social Media

Abstract

Youth gangs have traditionally been conceptualized as groups of youth who congregate or hang out on the street. The Eurogang definition, in fact, includes “street-orientation” as one of the criteria used to classify a youth group as a gang. With the advent of the Internet and subsequent expansion of social media, to what extent, if any, has this technological innovation resulted in a change in the underlying group dynamics of youth gangs? That is, does interaction and communication with others online affect behavior? In this chapter, we explore similarities and differences in the role of online communication on gang and non-gang youth. We find that gang youth have a stronger proclivity toward online communication relative to non-gang youth, and exposure to online-only peers who support crime is initially associated with self-reported delinquency and violence. However, the effect of online peers no longer endures after controlling for traditional peer delinquency, suggesting the online context is an extension of peer processes that take place within the street.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA

    Timothy McCuddy

  2. University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Finn-Aage Esbensen

Authors
  1. Timothy McCuddy
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  2. Finn-Aage Esbensen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy McCuddy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Chris Melde

  2. NSCR/Erasmus University, Amsterdam/Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Frank Weerman

Measures

Measures

School Disorder (α = 0.79)

  • Kids bullying or teasing other children at your school

  • Students beating up or threatening other students at your school

  • Kids of different racial or cultural groups at your school not getting along with each other

  • Students bringing guns to school

  • Having things stolen at school

  • Gangs in your school

Neighborhood Disorder (α = 0.84)

  • Run-down or poorly kept buildings in your neighborhood

  • Groups of people hanging out in public places causing trouble in your neighborhood

  • Hearing gunshots in your neighborhood

  • Cars traveling too fast throughout the streets of your neighborhood

  • Gangs in your neighborhood

Parental Monitoring (α = 0.73)

  • My parents know where I am when I am not at home or at school.

  • I know how to get in touch with my parents if they are not at home.

  • My parents know who I am with if I am not at home.

Temper/Anger (α = 0.78)

  • I lose my temper pretty easily.

  • Often when I’m angry at people, I feel more like hurting them than talking to them about why I am angry.

  • When I’m really angry, other people better stay away from me.

Hitting Neutralization (α = 0.86)

  • It’s okay to beat up someone if you have to stand up for or protect your rights.

  • It’s okay to beat up someone if they are threatening to hurt your friends of family.

  • It’s okay to beat up someone if they talk badly about you behind your back.

Prosocial Peers (α = 0.78)

  • Have you gotten along well with teachers and adults at school?

  • Have been thought of as good students?

  • Have been generally honest and told the truth?

Peer Delinquency

  • During the last year, how many of your current friends have done the following?

    • Stolen something worth less than $50

    • Attacked someone with a weapon (Violence)

    • Used tobacco or alcohol products

    • Used marijuana or other illegal drugs

    • Hit someone with the idea of hurting them (Violence)

Self-Reported Delinquency

  • Have you ever done these things, and if yes, how many times in the past 6 months?

    • Skipped classes without an excuse

    • Lied about your age to get into some place or to buy something

    • Avoided paying for things such as movies or bus/metro rides

    • Purposely damaged or destroyed property that did not belong to you

    • Carried a hidden weapon for protection (Violence)

    • Stolen or tried to steal something worth less than $50

    • Stolen or tried to steal something worth more than $50

    • Gone into or tried to go into a building to steal something

    • Hit someone with the idea of hurting him//her (Violence)

    • Attacked someone with a weapon (Violence)

    • Used a weapon for force to get money or things from people (Violence)

    • Been involved in gang fights (Violence)

    • Sold marijuana or other illegal drugs

Online Variables

Online Communication

  • You prefer communicating with friends online rather than in person.

  • Going online has made it easier to make friends.

  • How many of these friends have posted about illegal activities online that you did not find out about in person?

Parental Monitoring Online

  • My parents know what I am doing when I am using electronic devices such as computers, tablets, and cellphones.

Online Peer Delinquency

  • If you have online friends that you do not regularly see in person, how many have expressed support for each of the following in the past year?

    • Stealing something worth less than $50

    • Attacking someone with a weapon (Violence)

    • Using tobacco or alcohol products

    • Using marijuana or other illegal drugs

    • Hitting someone with the idea of hurting him/her (Violence)

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McCuddy, T., Esbensen, FA. (2020). The Role of Online Communication Among Gang and Non-gang Youth. In: Melde, C., Weerman, F. (eds) Gangs in the Era of Internet and Social Media. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47214-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47214-6_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-47213-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-47214-6

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