The Impacts of Social Media on Citizen Security Behavior in Mexico
Abstract
Over the past decade, Mexico has seen a dramatic increase in drug-trafficking organization (DTO) violence that has resulted in the deaths of over 47,000 Mexican citizens. This thesis examines the critical junction between social media and citizen security behavior in Mexico. The thesis begins by assessing the overall penetration of social media in Mexico, including its demographic and geographic characteristics. Next, it examines the use of social media by DTOs, how DTOs utilize social media to their advantage, the geographical concentrations of DTO violence, social media use by law-abiding Mexican citizens in their attempts to counter the violence in their communities, and social media use by politicians and journalists. The thesis concludes with a review of the findings of the study and recommendations based on three possible scenarios for the future of Mexican social media and Mexican citizen security behavior: Scenario 1 -- Shifting of DTO Activity Due to Social Media Activity in Mexico, Scenario 2 -- Use of Social Media to Further Combat Mexican DTO Violence, and Scenario 3 -- Regulation of Mexican Social Media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560582
Entities
People
- Scott Childers
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School