Law Enforcement Archives

Social Media Search vs. Social Media Investigation: What’s the Difference?

In the world of digital intelligence, the terms social media search and social media investigation are often used interchangeably. But make no mistake—they are not the same. Understanding the difference is crucial if you’re looking to uncover actionable information for a legal case, insurance claim, background check, or workplace inquiry.

At eChatter, we offer both services, and our clients often ask: “What’s the difference?” This blog breaks down the key distinctions between a basic search and a full investigation so you can choose the right approach for your needs.

What is a Social Media Search?

A social media search is typically the initial step in locating a person’s online presence. It’s a surface-level scan of publicly available information across social media platforms such as:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter/X
TikTok
LinkedIn
Snapchat (when content is public)

This search aims to identify whether a subject has an online presence, what platforms they use, and some general details like profile names, photos, and bio information. It may also include:

Profile creation dates
Recent posts or visible activity
Basic connections or followers

Use Case: A social media search is ideal when you’re trying to confirm identity or determine if deeper investigation is warranted.

What is a Social Media Investigation?

A social media investigation goes far beyond the basics. It is a comprehensive, analytical deep dive into a subject’s digital activity, using both manual review and AI-powered tools to uncover patterns, behaviors, and inconsistencies. These investigations can include:

In-depth analysis of posts, photos, and comments
Geolocation data pulled from images and check-ins
Associations with other individuals or groups
Timeline building for specific dates or events (e.g., after an injury)
AI-enhanced facial recognition and image matching
Archived or deleted content (when available through legal means)
Behavioral or sentiment analysis

Use Case: A social media investigation is used in legal claims, fraud detection, workplace misconduct, background screening, and civil or criminal litigation. The output often includes a documented report with screenshots, metadata, and analysis suitable for courtroom or internal use.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Social Media Search	Social Media Investigation
Purpose	Locate basic profiles and content	Uncover detailed, case-relevant information
Depth	Surface-level scan	Comprehensive review and analysis
Tools Used	Manual searches, open web	Advanced AI, geolocation, facial recognition
Output	List of profiles, general info	Detailed report with screenshots, timelines, associations
Recommended For	Preliminary review or ID confirmation	Legal evidence, fraud investigations, litigation

Which One Do You Need?

If you’re simply looking to find out whether someone has a digital footprint, a social media search may be enough. But if you’re trying to gather evidence, verify claims, or identify behavioral patterns, a full social media investigation is the way to go.

At eChatter, we specialize in both services. Our AI-powered tools and trained analysts ensure that no relevant detail is missed—especially in high-stakes cases.

Need help choosing the right level of investigation?

Contact us today for a free consultation, and we’ll help you determine whether a search or full investigation best suits your needs.

eChatter is a digital intelligence company providing OSINT and social media analysis to law firms, insurers, investigators, and businesses across the U.S.

Gang Activity and Group Affiliations Identified Through Social Media Posts

In today’s digital age, social media platforms are not just tools for connection—they’re also treasure troves of information for investigators. One emerging area of intelligence gathering is the identification of gang activity and group affiliations through social media posts. From images and hashtags to emojis and clothing, online behaviors can paint a very telling picture.

The Digital Footprint of Gang Activity

Gang members and affiliated individuals often turn to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat to share aspects of their lives. Whether consciously or not, they frequently reveal:

Symbols and hand signs
Color-coded clothing or bandanas
Group photos in known gang territory
References to specific streets, “sets,” or rivals
Hashtags tied to local or national gangs
Emojis that replace words (e.g., 🅱️ for Blood, 🐍 for “snake” or betrayal)

These clues, when collected and cross-referenced, can offer deep insights into group affiliations and potential criminal networks.

🧠 Case Studies and News Highlights

Chicago PD’s Social Media Division has long been utilizing public Facebook and Instagram posts to track gang rivalries and predict retaliation after shootings. In one case, an Instagram Live post helped them intervene before a potential violent retaliation.
A 2022 Department of Justice investigation in California used TikTok videos to tie suspects to a series of robberies. Members of a gang had been flaunting stolen items and taunting rival groups, giving investigators time-stamped evidence and location markers.
Academic research, such as the 2017 study “Digital Gangsters: Gangs and Social Media Use in Chicago” (Papachristos et al.), emphasizes how online conflict—called “Internet banging”—often escalates to offline violence.

🔧 How Investigators Can Use This Data

For private investigators, insurance companies, and law enforcement, recognizing digital gang markers can:

Validate existing suspicions or criminal history
Link individuals to known groups or criminal networks
Discredit or verify alibis using geotagged content
Support background checks for sensitive cases (e.g., custody, employment)
Aid in threat assessment or workplace security reviews

⚠️ Key Markers to Watch

When analyzing a subject’s digital footprint, consider the following as potential indicators of gang ties:

Type	Example
🧢 Clothing	Color patterns, logo flips, bandanas
🤳 Poses	Flashing hand signs, gang-specific symbols
🏷️ Hashtags	#FreeTheHomie, #GDK, #BDK, #TrapLife
🧩 Emojis	🅱️, 🐍, 💯, 🔫
📍 Locations	Frequent check-ins at known gang areas or streets
🎶 Music	Lyrics in videos referencing violence or affiliations

🛠️ Our Role in Helping You Connect the Dots

At eChatter, we specialize in analyzing digital behavior through a combination of OSINT, SOCMINT, and proprietary tools. Our team is trained to identify not just what’s visible—but what’s implied, coded, or intentionally hidden.

Through our reports, clients gain a clear view of affiliations, patterns, and risk factors. Whether you’re investigating a person of interest, building a case, or conducting due diligence, we deliver insights that matter.

Why Slang Matters in Social Media Investigations

Social Media users, especially younger generations, often use slang to communicate. You may have heard a phrase or two from a Gen Zer that made you pause and wonder what they meant by that! One that I hear a lot in my personal life is “spill the tea” ~ which means “tell me the gossip.” Innocent enough, but when conducting a social media deep dive on a person of interest, it is critical to educate yourself. Without knowledge of these terms, investigators might miss crucial details.

Identifying Drug Activity

Recently the publication, WIRED covered the subject of drug sales and drug use in social media. More and more dealers and consumers are using a combination of emoji’s and slang as a way to communicate. This has morphed into getting the delivery of your drugs via the USPS, rather than meeting the dealer on a street corner or in the dark web. Some dealers have even sponsored social media posts to gain more traffic. “Dealers ran hundreds of paid advertisements on Meta platforms in 2024 to sell illegal opioids and what appeared to be cocaine and ecstasy pills, according to a report this year by the Tech Transparency Project, and federal prosecutors are investigating Meta over the issue”.

Staying educated is one way to stay ahead of this. Here are some examples of the new terms used in social media along with their meanings:

Common Slang Terms Used by Drug Dealers:

Plug: Refers to a supplier or someone who can provide drugs.
Connect: Another term for a supplier or source for drugs.
Re-up: The act of replenishing a drug supply.
Slab: A large quantity of drugs, often sold in bulk.
Cut: Additives used to dilute or enhance drugs.
Cook-up: The process of preparing drugs, particularly in creating unique combinations.

*Resource: Higher Language

Gen Z Slang

Generation Z (Gen Z) generally includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012, according to the Pew Research Center. However, some sources may slightly adjust these dates, with ranges often extending from 1995 to 2010 or similar variations.
As of 2025, Gen Zers are approximately 13 to 28 years old.

Generation Z has developed a vibrant wordlist of slang terms that are widely used across social media platforms. Here are some of the most popular expressions:

Rizz: Derived from “charisma,” this term refers to someone’s ability to attract or charm others, especially in a romantic context.
Delulu: A playful abbreviation of “delusional,” used to describe someone who has unrealistic fantasies, particularly about relationships or personal aspirations.
The ick: A sudden feeling of discomfort or repulsion towards a person, often triggered by a specific behavior or trait.
Bussin’: Used to describe something exceptionally good or delicious, commonly in reference to food.
Mid: A term signifying that something is mediocre or average in quality.
Simp: Describes someone who is overly attentive or submissive to another person, often in a romantic context, without reciprocation.
No cap: A phrase used to assert that someone is telling the truth or being genuine.
Cheugy: Refers to something that is outdated or no longer trendy.

Glow up: Describes a significant transformation, often in appearance or style, indicating improvement.
Stan: A blend of ‘stalker’ and ‘fan,’ it denotes someone who is an enthusiastic and devoted admirer of a celebrity or public figure.
Ghosting: The act of suddenly cutting off all communication with someone without explanation, typically in a dating context.
Salty: Feeling upset or bitter, often in response to a perceived slight or disappointment.
Bet: A term used to express agreement or affirmation, similar to saying “okay” or “sure.”
Fam: Short for “family,” but often used to refer to close friends or a trusted group.
Sheesh: An exclamation used to express disbelief, admiration, or exasperation.
Resource: Parade

Social Media & Behavior Analysis

Photo: medium.com

One of the most fascinating aspects of social media for me has always been the psychological angle or behavioral science to it all. Behavioral science is a field that analyses human behavior. It focuses on observing, describing, explaining, predicting, and modifying behavior through systematic observation and manipulation of environmental variables. This can be applied to social media in various ways. Marketers have been doing it for years~ profiling users of social media to better advertise their products or services. In fact, social media can even be used to better understand population dietary behaviors. The review identified 34 studies involving social media analysis (SMA). They took a deep dive on alcohol consumption, dieting and eating away from home behaviors. Twitter was predominant with data sets in tens of millions.

This is nothing new for OSINT researchers, Investigative Journalists, Law Enforcement, and Private Investigators. We have learned just how much you can discover through various platforms from finding a missing child to uncovering financial fraud and everything in between.

We like to start off by examining the age of the person and which platforms they are more likely to be on.

Demographics of Platforms: AGE

The recent data from Pew Research may suggest we should pay closer attention to certain social media platforms based on age. YouTube and Facebook still remain the top two most used platforms across all demographics. This data is a good place to start and may help to uncover different usernames that can later be used to identify other platforms.

Understanding User Behavior

Behavior analysis can be used to study how individuals interact with social media platforms. Researchers can observe and analyze user behavior patterns, such as the frequency of posting, types of content shared, and interactions with others (e.g., likes, comments, shares). How much influence does the user have? Which friends or followers seem to interact with the user the most? In what capacity?

Clues in a Post

Location: Posts may contain information about a person’s location, such as check-ins or geotags, which can be used to verify alibis or track movements.
Relationships: Posts may reveal a person’s relationships with others, such as friends, family, or acquaintances, which can be used to identify potential suspects or witnesses.
Activities: Posts may provide information about a person’s activities, such as hobbies, interests, or daily routines, which can be used to establish patterns of behavior or gather evidence of illegal activities.
Emotions: Posts may reveal a person’s emotions, such as anger, sadness, or happiness, which can be used to assess their mental state and motivations.
Communications: Posts may contain messages, comments, or other communications with others, which can be used to identify potential witnesses or suspects, and to gather evidence of criminal activities.

Body Language

Technically, body language refers to the nonverbal signals that we convey through our physical movements and gestures, which are typically seen in person. However, in social media videos, you can still convey nonverbal cues through your facial expressions, tone of voice, and posture.

For example, facial expressions can show enthusiasm or sadness, change the tone of your voice will convey different emotions, and gestures may be used to emphasize certain points. Voice inflections can be a sign of stress or anxiety.

Studying a social media post’s background can be very telling as well. For example, a cluttered or messy background may communicate disorganization or lack of attention to detail, while a professional or clean background may communicate professionalism and attention to detail.

Social media posts can provide valuable clues in an investigation, as they can reveal a person’s thoughts, emotions, activities, and connections with others.

There are and will continue to be a wide range of reasons to pay close attention to social media for an investigation of any kind.

Fraud Update: Online Sales and Marketplaces

Many criminals continue to turn to the internet to unload stolen goods. Some sites require more information than a thief is willing to part with, which then leads them to other sites that have less security. Because of the anonymity some sites offer, it is important to search for the type of goods being offered on the site. User name searches are not always fruitful. Searching for items may back you in, if you will, to the criminal’s information.

Equally important is the rise of employee fraud. We wrote about this earlier this year. In Employee Fraud in the Digital Age, we discussed a case study. We once worked on a scan for an Investigator whose subject was suspected of selling a very unique set of stolen auto parts. The employee had created an eBay account and made the mistake of using a familiar user name. After the user name was revealed in our Deep Web Scan, we turned our attention to the online websites that sell goods to consumers. We were able to piece this information to that of our client’s subject. A huge catalog of stolen auto parts were on display.

Online Sales

According to Web Retailer, “47% of ecommerce sales were made through online marketplaces in 2020, amounting to nearly two trillion dollars. They also list 155 marketplaces that have more than one million visits per month, internationally.

How did this explosion in online selling happen? Over time it evolved, of course, but within the last couple of years, more and more people rely on it due to the Pandemic. Each online platform works differently, making it very difficult to find the scammers. Let’s take a look at a few of the top marketplaces to start.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook noticed that its users were buying and selling things in groups across the platform. In 2016, it created a dedicated hub where people could post items for sale in order to reach interested buyers. They created what is now known as Facebook Marketplace, and they grew it to 1 Billion users.

The volume alone dictates that it will be a breading ground for fraud and scammers. Facebook is well aware of the issues they have and have publicly stated that they use software as well as outsourced people to review listings flagged by the software and to answer user complaints.

Most recently, you can find fake COVID vaccine cards for sale. However, for the most part you can find just about anything here.

Amazon Online Sales

It is a little more difficult to sell on Amazon. You can either sell your products to Amazon or on Amazon.

As a consumer, it is important to pay attention to who is selling an item. For example I recently purchased a specific style of shoes. I didn’t think much about it and when it was delivered it was an obvious counterfeit. It even had a very strong chemical smell. It was obvious I was a victim of a seller of counterfeit goods.

The Washington Post recently had a great article titled, “How to tell real products from scams when shopping online.” They actually listed out some good OSINT research tips, such as doing a reverse image search on the item you are looking at. It is also smart to research the company name.

eBay Online Sales

When it comes to online sales fraud, you most likely think eBay. eBay has been around since 1995 and it is no stranger to these issues. While there are many other marketplaces, It is still a gigantic places to sell all kinds of used and new products. When conducting research on a person or company allegedly selling stolen goods online, it is still the best place to start.

A couple of OSINT tips when searching eBay:

Search the site for every known user name. You may even want to mix it up a bit by mixing user name letters and numbers. For example, consider the following fictitious user names; @windycity146, @tom.day, @daytom – I would search each of these but then combine to create new ones that the user may be using on eBay. Such as @tom146, @day146, etc..
Search the site by utilizing the “Advanced” button, which will display new options for searches. Toggle to “show results” and then “items near me”. From here you can plug in a zip code up to 10 miles or more. This is an excellent way to search if you do not know the user name of your suspect.