Within the gang, research in the UK and the USA suggest that young people claiming to be involved in gangs are more likely to participate in gang-related activities and more violent behaviours than individuals who do not (Bennett and Holloway, 2004; Bradshaw, 2005; Howell, 1998; RCMP, 2006; Sharp et al, 2006; Smith and Bradshaw, 2005; Thornberry et al, 2003; Youth Justice Board, 2007), especially when it is seen as an opportunity to portray masculinity (Moore, 1978; Stretesky and Pogrebin, 2007). Nonetheless, research claims that there are some similarities between youth gangs in the UK and the USA, such as the high rate of black-on-black violence, increase in girls cliques, selling and …show more content…
This is often portrayed in rap music videos and shared in social media to publicise a fake lifestyle when in reality, they may have no association with a gang (Patton, Eschmann and Butler, 2013). However, by publicising their associations (or a fake lifestyle), gang members are able to influence others to join and as a result, they are able to build their collective identity. This has led to law enforcement agencies in cities like New York, Chicago and Toronto using social media to investigate and solve gang-related crimes. For example, in 2012, 43 gang members in NYC gangs in Brownsville, Brooklyn were detained for participation in numerous fatal shootings because they bragged about the event on Twitter (Prokupecz et al.,