A commentary on the potential impact of online communities and crime-related media on the criminal justice system: ‘do you know more? … join the investigation’

Childs, Andrew; Robertson, Amanda; Fuller, Jacqueline

doi:10.1080/10345329.2019.1680097

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…As demonstrated in the present sample, there was a significant increase in the number of Reddit users discussing wrongful convictions on the social media platform after they watched When They See Us compared to before. Given that most American adults connect to the internet daily (Perrin & Atske, 2021), and that social media platforms and their usage continue to evolve over time, researchers may wish to consider novel means by which to use social media as a tool to understand user perceptions of wrongful convictions and the ability of wrongful conviction media to mobilize users towards innocence advocacy (Childs et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Angry and heartbroken for the failure of the system’

Henry,

Clow,

Zannella

2024

Wrongful Conviction L Rev

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As the number of wrongful conviction media productions released to the public increases, an understanding of their potential impact on viewers is prudent. One such production, When They See Us, depicts the wrongful conviction of five racialized youth, and we investigated the effect of watching this specific wrongful conviction media production on a subset of Reddit users’ online conversations about wrongful convictions and the criminal justice system in general. Following an inductive content analysis of Reddit comments shared to r/WhenTheySeeUs (N = 461), seven coding categories were observed. The ‘Wrongful Conviction Relevant’ coding category was the third most frequently occurring, representing 28% of total comments. Additionally, after conducting a deeper thematic analysis of the ‘Wrongful Conviction Relevant’ comments, the following themes and subthemes were identified: Risk Factors (Individual Characteristics and System Factors), Exoneration and Beyond (Impacts on Exonerees and Changes to System), and the Innocence Movement (Unmet System Expectations and Public Awareness). Users’ ‘Wrongful Conviction Relevant’ comments were situated within the academic literature investigating wrongful conviction correlates, outcomes, and preventative measures, and discussed in relation to viewer reactions to other wrongful conviction media productions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Angry and heartbroken for the failure of the system’

Henry,

Clow,

Zannella

2024

Wrongful Conviction L Rev

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“…In addition to telling personal stories, people are interested in controversial crime cases that brought up on social media (Childs et al, 2020; Marsh, 2016; Stratton, 2019). In such cases, people often use materials from the media and other sources to collaboratively generate narratives that make sense.…”

Section: Sense-making In Social Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Making sense of murder: Characterizing stories in social media groups

Lev-On

2023

Media, Culture & Society

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Social media platforms evolved into significant arenas for comprehending crises, hardships, violence, and murder. This paper contributes to the discourse within the intersection of social media and crime by delving into the narratives through which people pour meaning online into tragedies with personal significance. When people experience life-changing events, some go through a process of “sense-making” to fully understand the events and their implications, and reach closure. Processes of “sense-making” become increasingly public and collaborative through stories people tell on social media. Still, a dearth of literature exists that systematically examines these stories as conduits for infusing meaning into tragedies. This article bridges this gap by analyzing the narratives emanating from Facebook groups commemorating Tair Rada and advocating for justice for Roman Zadorov, who was convicted with her murder. These narratives not only challenge Zadorov’s culpability but also recount the sequence of events leading to the tragedy. Furthermore, they delve into the identity and motivations of the perpetrator(s), resuscitating neglected lines of police investigation and occasionally introducing alternative narratives. To establish their narratives’ credibility, authors employ a range of strategies such as integrating source materials, employing categorical language, and cultivating an atmosphere of personal witnessing or knowledge acquisition.

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The distribution of fake Australian vaccine digital certificates on an alt-tech platform

Childs

2022

Trends Organ Crim

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This paper provides the first exploration of the online distribution of fake Australian COVID-19 vaccine certificates. Drawing on a collection of 2589 posts between five distributors and their community members on the alt-tech platform Gab, this study gathers key insights into the mechanics of illicit vaccine certificate distribution. The qualitative findings in this research demonstrate the various motivations and binding ideologies that underpinned this illicit distribution (e.g. anti-vaccine and anti-surveillance motivations); the unique cybercultural aspects of this online illicit network (e.g. ‘crowdsourcing’ the creation of fake vaccine passes); and how the online community was used to share information on the risks of engaging in this illicit service, setting the appropriate contexts of using fake vaccine passes, and the evasion of guardians in offline settings. Implications for future research in cybercrime, illicit networks, and organised crime in digital spaces are discussed.

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A commentary on the potential impact of online communities and crime-related media on the criminal justice system: ‘do you know more? … join the investigation’

Cited by 5 publications

References 63 publications

‘Angry and heartbroken for the failure of the system’

‘Angry and heartbroken for the failure of the system’

Making sense of murder: Characterizing stories in social media groups

The distribution of fake Australian vaccine digital certificates on an alt-tech platform

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