ATLANTA (WXIA) -- There was a time when gangs did their advertising the old-fashioned way: through graffiti on walls; spreading their message slowly, one block at a time.
But that was before the internet could spread their influence virally, like a pandemic of violence, traveling at the speed of light.
"With the gangs utilizing social media, they realize that's a platform or tool to better put out what they do for other people to see," said Art Powell, a former gang member, He is now an advocate against them. "Whether that's imposing fear on their enemies by posting videos of beating somebody down or shooting or showing guns."
Last week, gunfire broke out at a high school football game in Atlanta. Police shot one suspect. But three guns were found at the scene, leading to speculation that it may have been gang-related.
A quick check of local social media overwhelmingly indicates that a gang connection cannot be ruled out. But even if so-called "net-bangers" aren't actually in a gang, they're still broadcasting the gang lifestyle.
"It's going to do two things," said Powell. "It's going to draw people in or it's going to repel people, push them away. And they know that. That's why they're using it so much and pushing it so hard."
What is particularly alarming is just how popular gang-related web content can be, with some posts on YouTube getting millions of hits.
But not everyone watching is a fan. Many are the police.
"People are ignorant to think that because they've got a password, it will stop people from finding out what they're doing," said Powell. But once you put something on social media, that's public information."
According to one database, there are 120 gangs in Atlanta alone. It's a good bet that all or most of them are lighting up social media right now.
And that's why police follow their cyber footprints so closely. With so much success.
