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'Going viral' and 'Going country': the expressive and instrumental activities of street gangs on social media.
- Source :
- Journal of Youth Studies; 2017, Vol. 20 Issue 6, p677-696, 20p
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Based on social media content analysis and focus groups with young people, the current study explores expressive and instrumental uses of the internet among street gangs. 'Trap rap' videos posted on YouTube and orientated around life as a drug dealer are identified as the ultimate cultural artefact for denoting London, UK, gang culture. These videos serve an expressive purpose in terms of reputation building, but also shed light on the instrumental business of gangs - specifically, illicit drugs sales via 'country lines'. Looking beyond the artefact toward how these videos are created, disseminated, and consumed, reveals the instrumental organisation of gangs and how social rules and behaviours within them are monitored and enforced. The current study thus contributes to gang research from the UK, and the growing body of literature on gang and gang member use of the Internet, with implications for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- GANGS
DRUG traffic
SOCIAL media
DRUGS of abuse
GROUP identity
PRICES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13676261
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Youth Studies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 123440051
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2016.1260694