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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.

Be Real: The Authentic Photo-Sharing App Changing Social Media

As of 2024, BeReal has over 100 million downloads globally, with about 25 million daily active users. The app initially gained popularity in France, where it was launched in 2019, but it has since expanded its user base, with the United States leading in downloads. BeReal’s unique approach of encouraging users to post unfiltered, real-time content has resonated with many, particularly younger audiences, with 98% of users being under 45 years old.

BeReal is a social media app that aims to provide a more authentic and less curated experience compared to other platforms. It was launched in 2020 by French developers Alexis Barreyat and Kévin Perreau. The app encourages users to post unfiltered, real-time photos to share a more genuine snapshot of their daily lives.

Heres how it works

Daily Notification: Every day at a random time, all users receive a notification to take a photo within a two-minute window.
Dual Camera Feature: The app uses both the front and back cameras simultaneously, capturing what you are doing and your reaction in real-time.
No Edits or Filters: Users are encouraged to post photos without editing or applying filters, promoting authenticity.
Limited Interaction: There are no likes, and interactions are minimal, which shifts the focus away from seeking approval or validation from others.

BeReal has grown popular, especially among younger audiences, because it contrasts with the highly polished content often seen on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook

Be Real Search Options

BeReal doesn’t have a traditional search function like other social media platforms where you can easily find someone by their name or username. Instead, finding someone’s BeReal account requires a few specific methods:

Friend Requests via Phone Contacts: BeReal allows you to sync your phone contacts, and it will suggest people you know based on those contacts. You can add friends directly if they are already using the app.
Username or Profile Sharing: You can manually share your BeReal username or ask for someone’s username, then add them by searching for their profile in the “Add Friends” section of the app.
QR Code: Users can share a QR code that others can scan to find their profile.

BeReal focuses on close, personal connections, which is why they don’t offer broader search features or public profiles. This design aligns with their goal of fostering a more authentic, private social media experience.

As of September 2024, BeReal has been in the news for a few reasons. The app has faced scrutiny over privacy concerns and data security issues, with some critics arguing that its approach to capturing authentic moments may unintentionally compromise user privacy. Additionally, BeReal has been exploring new features and updates to maintain user engagement, such as enhanced photo editing tools and expanded social interactions. The app’s efforts to stay relevant in the competitive social media landscape are also being closely watched.

E-Chatter stays on top of new social media applications and how they are used for the purpose of sharing our expertise with our clients. BeReal is an application we include in our search efforts on your behalf. Visit our website to learn more about our company and how we come alongside you during an investigation.

Sources:

GrabOn

The Social Shepherd

Online Optimism

The Growing Threat of Online Harassment

Online harassment has become a significant issue in today’s digital age, affecting people across various platforms and communities. According to Pew Research, 41% of Americans have personally experienced some form of online harassment. The study was published in 2021, although I am sure that number has increased over the last few years. Online harassment refers to abusive behavior conducted through digital platforms with the intent to harm, intimidate, or otherwise distress an individual or group. It encompasses a wide range of harmful activities facilitated by the internet, including social media, messaging apps, forums, and other online communication tools.

Types of Online Harassment

Online harassment can take many forms, each with its own methods and impact. Here are the main types of online harassment:

1. Cyberbullying

Definition: Repeated, deliberate harm inflicted through electronic means.
Examples: Sending threatening messages, spreading rumors online, posting hurtful comments or images.

2. Trolling

Definition: Intentionally provoking or upsetting people online to elicit emotional responses.
Examples: Posting inflammatory comments in forums, making offensive jokes, or derailing conversations with disruptive remarks.

3. Doxxing

Definition: Publishing private or identifying information about an individual without their consent.
Examples: Sharing someone’s home address, phone number, or personal photographs.

4. Swatting

Definition: Making false reports to emergency services to have them dispatched to someone’s address.
Examples: Reporting a fake hostage situation or bomb threat, leading to police SWAT teams being sent to the victim’s home.

5. Hate Speech

Definition: Online communication that demeans individuals or groups based on attributes like race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
Examples: Racist slurs, anti-Semitic comments, sexist remarks, and homophobic language.

6. Sexual Harassment

Definition: Unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
Examples: Sending unsolicited explicit images, making sexually suggestive comments, or stalking someone online.

7. Impersonation

Definition: Pretending to be someone else online to deceive others.
Examples: Creating fake profiles, sending messages under another person’s name, or posting as someone else to damage their reputation.

8. Cyberstalking

Definition: The use of the internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, group, or organization.
Examples: Repeatedly sending threatening emails, monitoring someone’s online activities, or using social media to track someone’s whereabouts.

9. Flaming

Definition: Posting hostile and insulting messages online, often in forums or social media platforms.
Examples: Aggressive and heated arguments, personal attacks, or profanity-laden tirades.

10. Catfishing

Definition: Creating a fake online persona to deceive others, typically for romantic or financial gain.
Examples: Pretending to be someone else on dating sites, forming online relationships under false pretenses, or soliciting money under a false identity.

11. Mobbing

Definition: Collective harassment by a group targeting an individual.
Examples: Coordinated attacks or campaigns against someone on social media, mass reporting of someone’s account to get them banned.

12. Outing

Definition: Publicly revealing someone’s private, sensitive, or embarrassing information without their consent.
Examples: Disclosing someone’s sexual orientation, sharing private messages or images, or revealing someone’s medical condition.

13. Online Shaming

Definition: Publicly humiliating someone online for their behavior or actions.
Examples: Viral posts calling out someone’s behavior, mass sharing of embarrassing videos, or targeted hashtag campaigns.

14. Gaslighting

Definition: Manipulating someone by psychological means into questioning their own sanity.
Examples: Denying previous online interactions, altering messages or posts to make someone doubt their memory, or spreading false information to discredit someone.

Understanding these various forms of online harassment is crucial for recognizing and combating them effectively.

The first place to start is to document everything should this happen to you or to a client of yours. Hire us to do a deep dive. Even the most skilled at this can mess up and it sometimes is found in the smallest little detail. We can help!

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.

“Sis, is this your Man?”

Dive into the unpredictable world of modern romance, where the once alluring dating pool has morphed into a chaotic dance of disappointment. Pose the question to any of your single friends about their dating escapades, and you’ll likely be greeted with a disheartening grunt or a groan that echoes the struggles of love in today’s world.

Picture this battlefield called love, where tales unfold like a riveting saga interwoven with the pitfalls of dating apps, cringe-worthy matches, and the spine-tingling phenomenon of ghosting. It’s not just a casual dip into the dating scene; it’s a full-blown immersion into a realm where emotions run wild, and the pursuit of genuine connection feels like an epic quest.

To make matters worse, dating apps are a breeding ground for cheaters. Not only do you as a single individual have to navigate through finding a potential love connection, you have to be safe in doing so. There is always the potential that someone is impersonating who they say they are.

Once a Cheater…

Jana Hocking, a columnist for the NY post and other publications, shared her experience in a recent NY Post article. As many do through dating applications, Hocking matched with a man who stated he was from the UK. His name was Sebastian, “Seabass” for short. One thing led to another and Sebastian added her to his Whatsapp account. Quickly Hocking noticed he placed a privacy setting on their chat, erasing all messages between them. “Why would he need his messages to be wiped? Hocking thought, “My spidey senses began to alert me that something wasn’t quite right.” From there, Hocking went onto a Facebook Group she is apart of called “Sis, is this your Man?”, looking for any clues on the man she matched with. Upon further digging she discovered the site FaceCheckID, and decided to place the dates photograph into the site. To her dismay, Sebastian really wasn’t who he said he was, in fact, his name was entirely different. An Instagram pulled up on the subject, called Robert, with a lovely photo of his wife and children.

Online Research Tips

Identifying a cheater can feel like an impossible task. Especially when dating apps themselves feel like the wild west. When someone wants to remain completely hidden, more than likely they will, but there is always, always that chance they mess up or are noticeable. Here are a few helpful tips from our expert analysts when conducting your own personal search on a cheater.

Facebook Groups- There are countless Facebook Groups nationwide and within your area, that have been created for the sole purpose of exposing cheaters. Hop onto your Facebook page, and start to search for groups that are local to you or even those in different states, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Some common Facebook Group Titles are:

“Do We Have the Same Boyfriend?”

“Does Anyone Know Who This Is”

“Sis, Is This your Man?”

“Cheaters Group”

“Are We Dating the Same Person?”

Social Media Deep Dive- You never know what is truly out there on an individual until you take the time to really search it out. We always recommend taking time to identify an individuals social media and online presence. It takes but one tiny detail identified to elevate your findings and case.
Conversation Apps-WhatsApp is a fantastic application to identify related to your subject. Depending on a person of interests app settings, sometimes other apps they are connected to can be shown through their profile. We have seen a few times where a Tinder or Bumble account is pulled up on an individual, simply by checking if they has a WhatsApp account.
Cash Apps- Depending on the privacy settings an individual has set through certain Cash applications, this can be another way to identify who your person of interest may be hanging around or with.
Dating Apps- Dive into the dating applications that are out there. Here are a few apps cheaters could easily sign up for and choose: Badoo, Tinder, Ashley Maddison, Bumble, Lovoo.
Secret Mesaging Apps- Does your client have access to the said cheaters phone? There are several secret messaging apps that they could identify such as Calculator Pro+, Hide My Text, Hago, Plato, Yubo, AmongChat.

We have countless requests from Private Investigators and Attorneys, from their clients, requesting information on if their partner or spouse is cheating. At E-Chatter our robust software, OSINT skills, and knowledgeable analysts all work together to identify cheaters.