Social
Media
Hand Signs
The Internet has provided a new medium for gang communication and promotion. Social media Web sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and others allow gang-involved individuals to represent their gang affiliation, taunt others, post threats, and organize and promote their gangs’ activities. Social media escalates the potential for violence, since it reaches such a large audience
Some gangs use specific hand gestures and handshakes to communicate their affiliation with the gang, to issue threats or challenges to rival gangs, or to communicate in code when authority figures are present. These gestures can be known as “throwing up” or “stacking.”