UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
social media sites like Instagram, Facebook,
YouTube, and Twitter to lure unwitting
young girls into the gang lifestyle with
rap videos and promises of a glamorous
life. These girls were then forced into sex
trafficking. 66
• (U) A member of a neighborhood-based
gang in the Bronx, New York, posted rap
videos on YouTube espousing violence and
the gang lifestyle. In response, he received
text messages containing requests to join
the gang. For example, he received a text
message stating, “I’m from Queens but I watch
all ya videos. Imma trying be down with the
WTG Move.” The rapper responded “you can
be WTG under me and b official” in exchange
for $125. 67
• (U) The BBE 900 gang in Cleveland, Ohio,
invested illicit proceeds to create rap videos
that were posted on social media sites and
used to recruit new members, build the
BBE 900 brand, and raise the intimidation
factor. 68
(U) Communication
(U) Gang members are increasingly moving to
messaging platforms, such as Snapchat, kik,
and WhatsApp to communicate. These
technologies provide instantaneous
(U) Social Media Platforms Most Frequently Reported
to be Used by Prison Gang Members
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Google+ Snapchat Flickr WhatsApp Mocospace
(U) Source: NAGIA Survey Data.
40
National Gang Intelligence Center
UNCLASSIFIED