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Gangs Using Social Networks to Recruit Members

by Evan Shamoon on February 8, 2008 at 11:00 AM

Gangs using social networks to recruit

According the recent reports, social networking sites like MySpace and even YouTube are being used as recruitment tools by gangs.

"We're seeing our gangs and the resurgence of some of the gang members coming back from prison looking more and more to those middle schoolers and the younger kids to recruit them," said San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer. Manheimer said kids get into discussions in the comments sections of these sites, which is where much of the recruitment has been taking place.

Youth counselor Alejandro Vilchez says teaching kids how to stay out of gangs in real life will help them avoid the online propaganda as well.

"It's really no different than the way Hitler recruited Hitler youth with the pageantry and the uniforms and the messages of unity and sacrifice and honor," said Vilchez. "It's the same messages that you seen on these gang websites."

Some tips from Mr. Vilchez: keep computers in common rooms, and closely monitor websites and cell phones.

And for chrissakes, learn the difference between a blood and a crip.

From CBS5

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