VIDEO: Social Media is Impacting the Evolution of Crime and Law Enforcement

May 24, 2017

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By Noell Saunders

Social media is inevitably changing both the way people commit crimes and how police investigate.

Until the early 21st century, crimes were committed outside the view of the majority of society, but now with new technology, crimes are more exposed.

Brian Payne, vice provost of Academic Affairs and a professor of sociology and criminal justice at Old Dominion University, said social media hasn't made a difference in crime statistics, but it has made a difference in behavior.

"Social media puts the public at the crime scene. I would say that social media is changing the types of crime that people experience and the dynamics of the crime," he said.

Watch the video to learn more about social media's impact on society.

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