Analysis of Social Media Involvement in Violent Injury

Whitlock et al discuss their cross-sectional study on social media involvement in violent injury. Social media permeates daily life, with more than 70% of people in the US using at least 1 application. A growing body of evidence suggests that online interactions can contribute to in-person conflict and violence, but the incidence of social media involvement in violent crime is unknown. Social media content that might appear violent to an outsider may be benign if interpreted with the correct context, and vice versa. With rising rates of violence across the US, social media may provide untapped opportunities for intervention and prevention. Prince George's County MD, has a population of nearly 1 million and is home to the second-busiest trauma center in Maryland. The Prince George's County police department is the only US police agency that routinely collects information on social media involvement in every crime report.