What's a “True” Threat on Social Media? Qualitative Evidence from Black and Latino Youth in Chicago

Background and Purpose: A small body of research has explored urban-based youth violence that occurs on social media. There is very limited research, if any at all, that examines how threats on social media are conceptualized among Black and Latino youth that live in violent urban neighborhoods. The Supreme Court has taken on the issue of threats on social media with Elonis v. United States. The case raised the question: When does a post on social media fall outside of the protection of the first amendment? Which standard should be used to determine “true threats.”

This paper helps to fill this gap by examining how Black and Latino youth in violent Chicago neighborhoods conceptualize threats on social media. Participants draw on their experiences in their community, on social media, and their interpretations of social media posts from Chicago youth to offer explanations for how threats are conceptualized on social media and why they lead to injury or homicide.

Methods: Forty in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with youth (ages 14-24) who either participate or interact with programming at the Chicago YMCA. The sample is predominately male (2% female, 98% males); and (60% Latino, 40% Black/African American). Participants were recruited from YMCA facilities that are based in four high crime/violence neighborhoods in Chicago. Participants engaged in a two-part interview that lasted 45-90 minutes. Part one explored how participants use social media, and their experiences with violent and threating social media posts. Part two asked participants respond to a set of Twitter posts on an IPad from Chicago gang members. Participants were asked to determine if was post is threatening. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded thematically using Dedoose qualitative software, guided by the principles of grounded theory and an inductive approach to qualitative analysis. 

Findings:  Three themes emerged about youth and emerging adult perception of threats on social media. First, threats are likely to lead to real world violence if they contain a specific reference to an individual or group target. Twitter posts that include a user name, neighborhood, gang name or violent image are considered the most dangerous by participants. Second, it is difficult to intervene in violence and aggression that occurs on social media because of individual and group desires to promote a tough neighborhood identity. Third, threats made on social media are amplified when violent comments are shared or retweeted which increase audience size.

Conclusions and Implications: Findings highlight the role social media plays in urban-based youth violence and its importance as a tool in violence prevention work. Results indicate how youth in Chicago conceptualize threats on social media platforms. Social media posts that are perceived as threatening have the potential to result in real world injury or homicide unless a bridge of communication can be formed between those who would fight. Social workers involved in violence prevention and community-based work may consider the role of social media in developing violence intervention and prevention strategies.