Social media connection ties to crime. Therefore, cameras are everywhere; people use cell phone cameras to either destroy police officers or to grow its industry, and it will never stop. However, crime has become an increasing theme of social media in the platforms; such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram. These networks have transformed the way we understand and experience crime and victimization. What are the potential effects of social media, presenting an unbalanced picture of crime? Where did the sense of privacy go? Law enforcement officers are magnets for social media. Therefore, social media somehow finds a way to make the encounters with the police look worse than what it seems. Law enforcement officers are wearing
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“For the police, social media has given them unprecedented access to the public, and vice versa” (McGovern & Milivojevic, 2016, para. 2). For example, social media has helped community policing expanded through social networking to locate missing children, alert neighbors of suspicious activity and even inform the public about crimes committed in their neighborhoods. (Hanson, 2011) In Memphis, Tennessee the local police uses a community-based website called NextDoor app to help tackle crime. NextDoor is a free, private and secure social media website launched in 2011. It is accessible only to residents within a particular neighborhood; however, local police have decided to use this social media website to solve criminal investigations. (Neely, 2016) NextDoor.com has been criticized for being promoting and permitting law enforcement officers the use of the site to combat crime. (Neely, 2016) Where did the sense of privacy go? The use of social media for criminal investigation and illegal activities is ethical in the sense that helps to solve the cases quickly and helps in decreasing the antisocial activities. However, the extent of invasion depends upon the purpose and the data that are going to be used. Personal information should be protected according to the privacy policy. Even the courts have been affected by law enforcement agencies use of social media. (Hanson, 2011) “Jurors have disregarded instructions and have conducted online research, shared their opinions on Twitter from the jury box, and even posted biased comments on their Facebook pages” (Hanson, 2011, para. 8). There is no doubt social media has been beneficial for some law enforcement agencies. However, there has been some ups and downs to social media providing what’s real and what’s fake. (McGovern & Milivojevic,
“For the police, social media has given them unprecedented access to the public, and vice versa” (McGovern & Milivojevic, 2016, para. 2). For example, social media has helped community policing expanded through social networking to locate missing children, alert neighbors of suspicious activity and even inform the public about crimes committed in their neighborhoods. (Hanson, 2011) In Memphis, Tennessee the local police uses a community-based website called NextDoor app to help tackle crime. NextDoor is a free, private and secure social media website launched in 2011. It is accessible only to residents within a particular neighborhood; however, local police have decided to use this social media website to solve criminal investigations. (Neely, 2016) NextDoor.com has been criticized for being promoting and permitting law enforcement officers the use of the site to combat crime. (Neely, 2016) Where did the sense of privacy go? The use of social media for criminal investigation and illegal activities is ethical in the sense that helps to solve the cases quickly and helps in decreasing the antisocial activities. However, the extent of invasion depends upon the purpose and the data that are going to be used. Personal information should be protected according to the privacy policy. Even the courts have been affected by law enforcement agencies use of social media. (Hanson, 2011) “Jurors have disregarded instructions and have conducted online research, shared their opinions on Twitter from the jury box, and even posted biased comments on their Facebook pages” (Hanson, 2011, para. 8). There is no doubt social media has been beneficial for some law enforcement agencies. However, there has been some ups and downs to social media providing what’s real and what’s fake. (McGovern & Milivojevic,