Police Force Embrace Social Media to Fight Crime

The popularity of social media has opened up many doors for ways to deal with crime, with instant updates available on events, and a ready-made network with whom to share information and try to identify suspects. Social media is now no longer just a useful platform for connecting with one’s friends – it’s power and outreach has now been employed by the police force as an important law enforcement tool. Social media is increasingly being used to gather evidence, to identify suspects and locations, to discover criminal activity and as a method of reaching out to the community to name just a few.






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There are a number of ways that the police are able to use social media as a way to help fight and solve crime, for instance through creating a local Facebook or twitter account for their county. This enables them to create a community of people who will be willing to help in informing them of crimes they have witnessed and for identification of criminals in their local area. For instance, Cambridgeshire Constabulary have created their own Facebook page on which they release news and appeal to residents for any information or identification of suspects, this is only one example but local police forces are creating profiles across the country. For instance, one post asks its followers, “Can you help? We’ve released CCTV images of two men we want to identify and speak to in connection with a robbery at an elderly woman’s home in Peterborough”. This shows the potential for social media to be used as a way to fight crime, through opening up more efficient and easier means for citizens to interact with the police.








Not only does this help the police force through expanding the potential witnesses who could aid in their search for criminals but it also provides the public with some reassurance that action is being taken against criminals in their local area. It may also help to create a sense of community with people rallying together to help their fellow residents in the face of crime and violence in their area. Facebook and Twitter can therefore be an important broadcasting tool, with the ability to target specific audiences and provide large scale transmittance of new information on recent crime, helping to keep residents up to date and creating an online ‘Neighbourhood watch’ system.


Another tactic that has been used by local authorities to target criminals is the creation of fake online identifies to befriend suspects and view their private information online. Authorities who have taken up this approach soon discovered that criminals were using social media networks to show off about the crimes they were plotting, for instance setting up drug deals, to boast about their wrongdoings and upload incriminating videos. Facebook however does not approve of the practice of creating fake profiles as it is against their terms of service, even for law enforcement purposes. While these fake accounts may violate a social network’s rules, they are not illegal and evidence which is collected in this manner can still hold up in court.


Social Media has been particularly taken up in the US with four out of five officials saying that they would use social media to gather intelligence during an investigation, and the majority of them believed that social media helped to solve crimes faster. Findings have found that Facebook is the most fruitful social network for law enforcement, and is followed by YouTube.







Australian police forces have also been proponents of using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as ways to fight crime, using them to publish appeals for help and to find potential witnesses. In particular Australian authorities have seen the benefits of using social media in reporting cases of sexual assaults. They have found that young people feel more comfortable disclosing information of this unpleasant nature via a social media, as they may not have felt happy to discuss this over the telephone or in person. The Centre Against Sexual Assault in Australia have found that they have had a surprising number of people who chose to access the website and social media to provide information about sexual assaults and have requested information and assistance through using this medium.


While there are a number of advantages to using social media to aid in stopping crime and catching offenders, there are a few downsides to this use. It should be remembered that not everyone has Facebook or Twitter accounts, this is often the case with the elderly, so they would not be able to access the information shared by the police in this manner. Therefore, it is still important that the traditional means of spreading information about crime in local areas remains.





Furthermore, does this mean we should worry about what we are writing on social media as law enforcement may be monitoring social media more and more and simple comments might be misconstrued? Does this represent an invasion of one’s privacy or is it just a way to ensure that everyone is safer and protected from criminal behaviour?

Social Media News - The Decline of Facebook

Is Facebook in decline as the main social media website? Although the number of Facebook users is increasing and there are over 1.5 billion active Facebook users in the world (a 23% increase from March 2012) people are increasingly turning to other forms of social media as a way of socialising with friends, family and keeping up to date with the latest developments in the news and media. Facebook use is not declining because teenagers and young people are all going to one particular social network, but because they are turning to a selection of applications instead. What social media websites are people turning to in place of Facebook? And for what reasons are they choosing these sites over Facebook?

Alternative social networks are attracting the attention of social media users who are looking for a new and exciting way to socialise with their friends online. People have always found a thrill in trying out new things and this is no different for social media websites.

In the US and the UK most people who want to sign up for Facebook have already done so, and it is increasingly becoming a saturated market. However, newer social media platforms, such as Instagram, Snapchat and Vine have seen great increases in popularity especially among younger age groups. Facebook itself has noticed how there has been a decline in the time that is spent on its pages from those sitting in front of personal computers as people are switching to using their smartphones and tablets as a method of accessing social media websites. Therefore it is not surprising that people are also turning to new social media websites which have specifically been designed for use on phones and portable devices, as it allows them to update their profile whilst on the move and as the events happen. The increasing number of people with smartphones also means that people also tend to keep in contact with their friends by using instant messaging more. Smartphone apps like Snapchat and Whatsapp help to make this easier and mean that people need to keep in contact with their close friends via Facebook less.

Furthermore, there has been a decline in the amount of time which is spent on Facebook due to the people choosing to use more specific social media sites. For instance, the visual content posted in Facebook is often the most popular, gaining the most likes and the most shares. This has led to a greater number of people shifting to using specific sites for sharing images and videos, such as Instagram and Pinterest. In June 2013, Instagram added a new video feature to its app, which allows users to take up to fifteen seconds of video through the Instagram camera. The Instagram video feature is a competitor to Twitter’s video app, Vine, showing the popularity of new applications to enhance existing social media websites. These new developments in more recently created social media sites are keeping people entertained and is helping to draw in a new following of people who are bored of Facebook and are looking for something more visually appealing. It is no wonder that Facebook was keen to invest in Instagram and capitalise on the growing popularity of visual based social media sites.

It has been found that teenagers and young people are the main demographic who are shifting away from using Facebook as their main social media site. Teenagers in particular are progressively trying to find new social media sites which they can make their own – away from the prying eyes of their parents and other relatives who are now on Facebook.  Teenagers have therefore found a greater level of privacy by using other social media websites, and also have the option to create a username so that you do not have to be known by your actual name as you are on Facebook, as this would make you instantly more searchable.

Others are turning to different social media sites in an attempt to create exclusivity, and privacy away from the vast numbers of Facebook users. For instance, Path, a social media networking site, has focussed on a more personal approach to social networking stating that: “We believe it’s not your public, professional, or social life that matter most, it’s your personal life”. Their aim is for individuals to create a network in which you can only have 150 friends, creating an environment where you will only speak to the people you like and want to remain in contact with. They are creating a positive approach to exclusive social media networks stating that they believe in “Authenticity, Happiness, Simplicity”.

This links to the idea that Facebook is causing young people to feel a sense of dissatisfaction, as they are constantly receiving updates of what others are doing and therefore comparing their own lives to the constant influx of new photos, posts and comments which amplify the positive aspects of their friend’s lives and can elicit a feeling of envy. A recent study has concluded that the more its subjects used Facebook over a two-week period, the more their “life satisfaction levels” dropped. The move away from Facebook could therefore represent a subconscious acceptance of the way that constant use of this social media website can make you feel, and that a greater enjoyment can be felt by using Facebook less.

Although people may be using Facebook slightly less than previously, its power as the top social media website does not seem to be waning. Other social media websites may provide new and exciting ways to engage with friends and find out updates on news and media but Facebook is still the most significant platform which people use to connect with others.

What do you think?

The Psychology of ‘Adapting to Change’ on Google Plus

When the platform changes, many of us go through a process of thinking “nooooo, why do they keep changing stuff!” etc.

We tend to like status quo, whilst knowing change is inevitable.

But what happens when this changes ‘happens to us’? How do we shift our internal models of what was was, to was it now? Well, I have had the good fortune of watching what happens for me so thought I would share it.

Introduction

My experience of Google+ could be summarised as a constant learning curve. Some changes leading to a totally new versions how I ‘see’ Google+ in my head, whilst others tend to be subtle adjustments of the processs at play e.g. how a +1 can lead to people seeing posts in their streams (where it was more passive earlier).

During the early part of the summer many of us know how Google+ was transformed – now with ‘cards’ that ‘flip’ and pages that are far more dynamic. Let’s face it, it is very pretty and functional too.

But do you remember how it looked beforehand? I am getting the answer is ‘no’, and even if you can recall it will be hard work to patch it back together. And what about the process of change…do you think about it as a cyclical process?

Freeze, unfreeze and refreeze

I was recently discussing this with the very forward thinking social fellow Paul Simbeck-Hampson as a way of preparing people for a change occurring within an organisation. There are several models of change out there but one way to think about is loosely applying Lewin’s 3-stage model. 

It is frozen and you know ‘where things are’
It unfreezes and many things that were in place are not lost, but there is learning occuring
It refreezes whereby integration has occurred and the change process/cycle is completed

Below I have taken this model and applied it to my own experience of internal changes to thoughts as they are ‘forgotten’ and ‘rebuilt.

Stage 1 – Frozen.

Applying this to how we create the internal model of the platform.
In essence, through experience and learning, we have thoughts we have ‘in our head’ – largely visual, with some auditory overlay i.e. the neurology is laid down.

These thoughts, when we recall them, create an internal map that represents the platform.
Depending upon the person, there is a mapping between the thoughts and the actual platform, with varying degrees of accuracy in the recall.
These thoughts can then be altered (meaning in this context ‘come and go’), one by one, or chained, whereby a person moves from ‘screen to screen’, or step-by-step as they mentally ‘click a button’, mouseover, drop in a file to a post etc.
This gives us the ability to ‘know the place’ and be able to navigate it in our minds.

Stage 2 – Unfreeze (during the change)

We will often find ourselves in a state of confusion when things ‘change’.
But how does this happen?
Well, it is likely the thoughts relating to ‘knowing the platform’ become ‘weaker’, often with a physical association of ‘discomfort’ or uncertainty.The images are no longer as clear, as bright, lacking depth etc.One is no longer able to accurately ‘map’ where the buttons will lead when you click them, a mouseover no longer does the same thing, you get ‘lost’

Stage 3 – Re-freeze

Once, through practice, the new task has been learned (as effectively every click, mouseover, drop of a file etc is a task) you return to a state of ‘knowing’ once more. But not until you have grasped this new territory and mapped it accordingly. When this happens…

The thoughts return more consistent density in terms of clarity of the content
You can, for example, perceive detils better than in the previous stage – you think of a screen on Google Plus, e.g. the box for making ‘posts’ and the icons are clear to you
The ‘content’ (e.g. where the icons are on the Page) is now the ‘new way’ and the stability of the object i.e. the thought is now formed
You are able to move through sequences of tasks far easier and you ‘know where you are’ i.e. the actions are coming from a more clear internal model – the patterns are now laid down.

Conclusion

Knowing this to be one way to describe the natural cycle of change, it makes it easier to relax during the unfreeze process, where many people feel all at sea. It is during this stage of the process that community support really helps, as well as access to reassuring and straightforward materials that enable any changes to be understood in the easiest possible manner. With numerous educators in the Plus – alongside Google themselves – they reduce too much discomfort and provide clear explanations of ‘what is going on’ and what it means.
Changes will not stop happening, and if anything it is going to speed up considerably. We all know this, but often we want ‘frozen’ to stay forever as it is comfortable. Instead it may well be easiest to flow down stream when system changes come, getting to a point where the flow itself is enjoyable as it enables new learning and increased integration, understanding and connection to who and what matters to us most. It is one heck of a ride!

- See more at: http://www.martinshervington.com/the-psychology-of-adapting-to-change-on-google-plus/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+martin-shervington+%28MartinShervington.com%29#sthash.5sj7WaDi.dpuf

Falling For Twitter

I have been writing about Twitter here on Social Solutions for a year now (moment to appreciate our first birthday!) and it still amazes me that people still come up to me with pride and say…

“Oh, I don’t DO Twitter”

Sometimes they continue on in great detail as to why they don’t. Now, not only does this, seemingly innocent to them, conversation make for an uncomfortable moment, I also find myself offended. Twitter is a huge part of my career and, to an extent, my social circles.

I feel that the people that engage in blanket statement hatred of Twitter are the same ones who say things like “No, I don’t have a TV in the house” or “we don’t use a law mower, we have a goat that does that” While the goat example may be a tad extreme, there is a definite anti-Twitter bias among the populous at large. I know that Twitter can be intimidating to a new user, but the pluses outweigh the minuses if they only would give it a chance.

Do you happen to have an anti-Twitter friend? Share this list of reasons to help them fall for Twitter.

Conversations: Twitter is about more than broadcasting your business’s message. Using the platform for both personal and business purposes, you will quickly discover that the conversations you have with other users can be the best part.

Reach: For those of you who are strictly concerned with getting a message out, whether it be for business, to raise awareness for a cause, or you just want your voice to be heard, Twitter is the channel for you. With a spiderweb-like path of spreading tweets, retweets and things like hashtags, you can get your message to a huge crowd of people with whom you may never have shared if not for Twitter.

Community:
Wile Twitter has the capacity of broad reach on unlimited topics, it can also help you find a community. Choose a topic, career, hobby; whatever you are passionate about, there will be a community of people out there on Twitter that you can find and with whom you can connect. That can be a starting point toward deeper and better connections.

Most of the issues people think they have with Twitter can be solved by A: taking the time to learn how the tool works, and B: only following people you actually want to listen to. Hopefully, this post will convince a couple of people to fall for Twitter, and not anger any goat gardeners  Just remember, you get out of Twitter what you put into it.

4 Cool Tools To Drive Huge Traffic From Pinterest

Do you use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website?

Pinterest has grown tremendously in the last few years and have become one of the best marketing platform for millions of businesses across the globe, so, if you are not using Pinterest yet, you should consider it right way.

If you are already using Pinterest to drive traffic to your website, the tools listed below will definitely increase the amount of traffic you are getting from Pinterest.

Also Read: The best wordpress plugins for social sharing

 4 Useful Pinterest Tools

1. Pinstamatic:

If you want to make the best use of Pinterest than this tool can do a great job for you. Pinstamatic is a very easy to use effective tool, with Pinstamatic you do much more than just posting images on Pinterest.

For example you can post your Twitter profile as a great looking pin on Pinterest, just write your Twitter username in Pinstamatic it will provide a simple visual representation of the profile and their last tweet which your followers can click on to take them to the corresponding Twitter page.

You can create colorful sticky notes with short message and share with your followers, you can share your favorite music and let your friends play songs directly from your board.

You can post lots of other stuff which using this tool which will help you to drive huge traffic from Pinterest.

2. PinAlerts:

PinAlerts notifies you  whenever someone pins something from your website, which will help you to track users who are interested in your content and increase your followers.

3. Pinpuff:

Pinpuff is a free-to-use tool, aiming to accurately measure Pinterest user’s influence, reach and virality on Pinterest, assign a Pinfluence score and monetary values of their pins.

To get started with your analytics on Pinpuff, go to the website and fill in your email and your Pinterest username, then click on the button ‘Calculate your Pinfluence’.

4. Share As Image:

Share As Image lets you highlight text anywhere on the web and easily convert it into an image. With the PRO version you can choose fonts, colors and text size! Once you’ve created your quote image, you can share it on Pinterest

If you know any other Pinterest Tool which will help to drive huge traffic from Pinterest, do share with us using the comment form below.