Social Media
The Edmonton Police Service is facing new challenges in its fight against gang activity due to the widespread use of social media for recruitment and rival targeting, according to a local police official.
Sgt. Ryan Ferry, who gave a presentation on gang activity at the Stanley A. Milner Library, says gangs are increasingly using platforms to boast about a lavish lifestyle to attract new members and to threaten rival gangs.
While police do monitor these posts, Ferry noted the difficulty in tracking messages that spread rapidly. He also said that police must respect freedom of speech, which is a key consideration when monitoring online content.
Marta-Marika Urbanik, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Alberta, has said that social media has made it easier for vulnerable youth who might not otherwise have an opportunity to interact with gang members to connect with them quickly. Urbanik, who has studied gang dynamics in Edmonton since 2019, said gangs in other cities, such as Toronto, have used social media as a recruitment tool for over a decade.
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