Juan Campos has been working to save at-risk teens from gun violence for 16 years.
Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc.Aug 25 2023 As a street outreach worker in Oakland, California, he has seen the pull and power of gangs. And he offers teens support when they've emerged from the juvenile justice system, advocates for them in school, and, if needed, helps them find housing, mental health services, and treatment for substance abuse.
Shamari Martin Jr. was an outgoing 14-year-old and respectful to his teachers in Oakland. Mixed in with videos of smiling friends on his Instagram feed were images of Shamari casually waving a gun or with cash fanned across his face. In March 2022, he was shot when the car he was in took a hail of bullets. His body was left on the street, and emergency medical workers pronounced him dead at the scene.
Such online outpourings of grief often presage additional violence, said Desmond Patton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who studies social media and firearm violence. Acutely aware of that role are researchers, community leaders, and police across the country — including in Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. They describe social media as a relentless driver of gun violence."What used to be communicated on the street or in graffiti or tagging or rumors from one person to another, it's now being distributed and amplified on social media," he said.
"When you allow a video that leads to a shooting, you bear responsibility for what you put out there," said Fred Fogg, national director of violence prevention for Youth Advocate Programs, a group that provides alternatives to youth incarceration. "Social media is addictive, and intentionally so." Social media companies say they remove content that violates their policies against threatening others or encouraging violence as quickly as possible. In a statement, YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon said the company "prohibits content reveling in or mocking the death or serious injury of an identifiable individual.
Playing with fire At a time when virtually every teen has a cellphone, many have access to guns, and many are coping with mental and emotional health crises, some say it's not surprising that violence features so heavily in children's social media feeds. Police in Los Angeles now monitor social media for early signs of trouble, Moore said. Police also search social media after the fact to gather evidence against those involved in violence.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A Look Back At 8 Of Sofia Coppola’s Most Stylish FilmsFeaturing rebellious teens, reckless grifters and an extravagant French queen.
Read more »
Two teens part of Lapsus$ cyber-crime spree, jury findsFrom BT and Nvidia to Grand Theft Auto 6, pair were on a total tear
Read more »
How to safeguard teens' well-being on social mediaAs the new school year begins, parents may be wondering how to help teens protect their mental health as they engage with peers on social media.
Read more »
Teens to find out GCSE results today amid warnings top grades will dropTHOUSANDS of fewer teens are expected to get top marks as GCSE results are published today. Ministers predict a return to 2019 result levels after the pandemic ushered in a wave of grade inflation.…
Read more »
GCSE results day 2023 LIVE as thousands of teens get their gradesIt's just the second time since the pandemic students have sat their exams in-person
Read more »