The Role of Online Communication Among Gang and Non-gang Youth
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.
Publication Title
Gangs in the Era of Internet and Social Media
Recommended Citation
McCuddy, T., & Esbensen, F. (2020). The Role of Online Communication Among Gang and Non-gang Youth. Gangs in the Era of Internet and Social Media, 81-104. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47214-6_5
