What is “cyberbanging”? Select and explain one of the five purposes Patton and his colleagues (2013) proposed for its increased use.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students will first define the term: cyberbanging is a term coined to identify the emergence of gang activity on the Internet. Students may also mention how this term may include the escalation of cyberbanging, or how it is used to promote the gang’s activity and reputation. Students may select one of the following purposes listed in the text and provide a brief explanation. 1. Promote gang affiliation and/or communicate interest in gang activity: Gangs may use social media platforms to promote themselves, publicize allegiances, legitimize street culture or build a threatening Internet reputation all by using signals or colors--yet these activities are typically not formally organized. 2. Gain notoriety by reporting participation in violence or communicating a threat: Gangs may use online outlets to brag about past violence (potentially even sharing videos), insulting others, or posting future threats, typically to rival gang members or even law enforcement. 3. Share information on rival gangs with members across the country: Gang members may use these platforms to communicate activities or plans, but likely do not make much information public to hide from potentially surveilling law enforcement. 4. Coordinate or conduct criminal activities: Gang members may coordinate or facilitate illegal activities using online communication. 5. Recruit new members: The National Gang Intelligence Center reports social media as a tool of recruitment for gangs, yet this has not been conclusively found in research settings.