Mobile Social Networking

Background

What is it?

A 2005 study of Canadian youth found that 23% have their own cellular (cell) phone (more specifically, 6% of Grade 4 students and 46% of Grade 11 students) (Media Awareness Network 2005). This same study found that 44% of the students’ phones had Internet capability, 56% had text messaging, and 17% had built-in cameras. It seems likely that cell phone use among Canadian youth has increased in more recent years due to cell phones’ decreased cost, enhanced portability, and additional features marketed toward youth. It has been estimated that approximately 80% of teenagers worldwide have cell phones (Stewart 2008).

One of the additional features available to cell phone users is a social networking capability. Mobile social networking allows individuals to communicate, send messages, exchange information, and to send images/video using their cell phone (Boyd 2007). Similar to web-based social networking, users can generate a profile of themselves and communicate with other network users. While cell phones cannot yet rival the ease, screen size, or speed of a computer, they do offer users increased portability and accessibility. Indeed, it seems like mobile social networking is a natural evolution of online life (Jackson 2007).

How does it work?

Mobile social networks can be divided into two categories – “on deck” and “off deck.” On deck refers to applications that operate through a partnership between social network companies and wireless phone carriers whereby programs and applications are distributed via the wireless carrier (Mehrotra 2007). In other words, on deck applications come pre-packaged with the purchase of a cell phone. Conversely, off deck refers to applications that do not have such carrier relationships and do not come pre-packaged with the cell phone (Mehrotra 2007). Instead, a user must download the application from the Internet or from a wireless provider after the time of purchase.

Advances in technology and software allow for more complex interactions between users, no longer limiting wireless phones to verbal conversations or simple text messaging on a one-to-one basis. Users can now visit a website, create their own online profiles, establish interpersonal relationships, participate in and/or create chat rooms, engage in private conversations, share photos and videos, or share blogs¹ by using their cell phone (Humphreys 2007).

A Closer Look

A user can access a social networking community in three ways: text messages, wireless upload, and Web browsing (Strickland 2008). A text message or Short Message Service (SMS) message is a method of communication that allows users to exchange simple text messages with each other or with services like Web sites, voice-mail systems, and email servers (Hord 2008). SMS is limited to 160 characters and can only support text.

Alternately, a method called Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) has no size limit, allowing users to attach various types of media (images, sounds, and videos). Considered wireless uploads, since they contain only text, MMS typically involves much larger files/messages than SMS. Therefore, MMS users require faster wireless cell phones and wireless connections that are common in newer model phones, such as 3G². These 3G-capable cell phones also have to be compatible with a user’s cell phone carrier’s network system.

In order to access a mobile social networking site, a user’s cell phone must have Web browsing capabilities. The user can access the site by browsing the mobile social network’s web address. Of course, the mobile social networking sites are rather simplistic compared to their computer-based counterparts since computers have increased processing capacity and more advanced capabilities than cell phones. Nonetheless, users have the capability to update their profile; add pictures, video or sound clips; and/or, retrieve information about their online friends.

Attractiveness to Users and Child Sexual Offenders

Users of mobile social networking websites will likely find many benefits with this technology. Portability is certainly a major advantage compared to computer-based networks. Whether one is studying, vacationing, or conducting business away from home, the “ability of a mobile phone to be constantly available in the user’s pocket is a clear advantage that mobile Internet users have over one who is surfing the Internet through a fixed-line computer” (Ben-Avinoam 2008: 1). The ability to readily connect and access mobile social networking using a cell phone also helps to bring people together and promotes relationships (Jackson 2007).

Unfortunately, connectedness and accessibility to a network of young users also makes it easier for child sexual offenders to gain access to potential victims. Some mobile social networks have the ability to track a user’s location through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) ³. When users join a network, they have the option to allow others to view their coordinates. This can be used by offenders to track or meet a child offline when s/he is away from home and perhaps lacking parental supervision. Another potential harm associated with mobile social networking is that most cell phones come with built-in cameras. This makes it easy for children to photograph themselves and instantaneously upload their photo to post on their online profile or to share with others. This raises the possibility that the images can be accessed and copied by child sexual offenders. If the images depict children who are engaging in some form of sexual activity, they may be used by offenders to blackmail or otherwise manipulate the child.

Implications for Law Enforcement

“New social technologies have altered the underlying architecture of social interaction and information distribution” (Boyd 2007:1). Today, young people rely greatly on cell phones as a way of communicating with others, particularly their friends. The cell phone has become a symbol of status among many peer groups, sometimes providing a young person with a sense of belonging. Cell phones also represent a symbol of independence from one’s family (Campbell 2005). Some have expressed concern that an increasing number of youth are engaged in virtual networking while being ignorant of its offline ramifications (Goodale 2007).

Of particular interest to law enforcement, some youth appear to be oblivious to the potential dangers associated with such technologies. Young people can post various photographs of themselves, including ones that are sexually suggestive or depict activities that are inappropriate or illegal (e.g., drinking alcohol underage, smoking marijuana), without considering the potential consequences of posting such images. Young users may also share personal information with other network users, some of whom they may have never met offline. This increases their vulnerability as child sexual offenders are known to use social networks (e.g., social networking websites) as one of their primary resources in targeting children (Federal Bureau of Investigation 2006). Using social networks that are mobile may even heighten risk of sexual exploitation for unsuspecting youth as they are less likely to be supervised using their cell phone(s) than they would be if they were communicating via a family computer.

Fortunately, many of the social networking sites are making enhancements to both the computer and mobile networks with the intention of better protecting young users (BBC News 2008). For example, one of the primary goals of Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), an alliance of cell phone operators from numerous countries worldwide, is to limit the potential for misuse of mobile networks and services for hosting, accessing, and profiting from involvement with child sexual abuse content (BBC News 2008). In the United States, some social networking sites have reached an agreement with government officials to implement safeguards to protect children. These safeguards include age-based restrictions as to whom users can communicate (i.e., adults are limited in the extent to which they can communicate with children), privacy controls will be made more stringent (e.g., users can control who views their profile), and parents will be able to delete their underage child’s profile (Sahota 2008). Enhanced communication between law enforcement and telecommunication service providers (Internet and cell phone providers) can potentially prevent young people from being victimized and allow police to detect and apprehend offenders who use social networking technology to sexually exploit children.

Although the use of mobile social networking sites via traditional cell phones may lose popularity as smart phones (i.e., phones with more computer-like capabilities, including the ability access email and surf the web) become increasingly available, it is sensible for investigators to remain aware of their implication in facilitating sexual exploitation offences against children. Smart phone applications allow users access to most, if not all, popular social networking websites that are available using an Internet-connected personal computer. Therefore, young social network users can be vulnerable to child sexual offenders if they are not educated about the risks of using these networks, particularly as they become increasingly accessible to young users who are mobile. Police officers working in schools (i.e., school liaison officers) should make an effort to provide youth with information that will help the young people use mobile social networks in a safer way.

References

Ben-Avinoam, Barak. (2008). “The time is now for mobile social networking.” Wireless Week. Advantage Business Media. http://www.wirelessweek.com/Time-Now-Mobile-Social-Networking.aspx

BBC News. (2008). “Mobile firms to block child porn.” BBC News Channel. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7238739.stm

Boyd, Danah. (2007). “Social network site: Public, private or what?” The Knowledge Tree. http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2007/?page_id=28

Campbell, Marilyn. (2005). The impact of the mobile phone on young people’s social life. Centre for Social Change Research. Australia: Queensland University of Technology.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2006). Social networking sites: Online friendship can mean youth peril. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/april06/socialnetworking040306.htm

Goodale, Gloria. (2007). “Students new best friend: Mososo.” The Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0119/p11s02-stct.html

Groupe Speciale Mobile Association. (2008). About GSM Association. http://www.gsmworld.com/about-us/index.htm

Hord, Jennifer. (2008). “How SMS works.” How Stuff Works, Inc. http://communication.howstuffworks.com/sms.htm

Humphreys, Lee. (2007). “Mobile social networks and social practices: a case study of dodgeball”. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, Vol. 13, No.1. http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/humphreys.html

Jackson, Sean. (2007). “Out in the cold: The online world is buzzing with social networking platforms, while the mobile operators look on in envy.” Mobile Communications International. http://corp.airg.com/documents/MobileCommunicationsInternational_Sept2007.pdf

Marshall, Brian. (2008). “How blogs work.” How Stuff Works, Inc. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/blog1.htm

Marshall, Brian, and Harris, Tom. (2008). “How GPS receivers work.” How Stuff Works, Inc. http://www.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm

Media Awarness Network. (2005). Young Canadians in a wired world: Phase 2. Industry Canada. http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/research/YCWW/phaseII/

Mehrotra, Puneet. (2007). “BrandXtend – Delivering on and off deck”. The Business Edition. http://www.thebusinessedition.com/brandxtend-%E2%80%93-delivering-on-and-off-deck-704/

Sahota, Dawinderpal. (2008). “Facebook steps up child protection.” Computer Shopper. Dennis Publishing Limited. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/news/211929/facebook-steps-up-child-protection.html

Stewart, Douglas. (2008). “The youth culture and cell phones.” Discovery Articles. http://www.discoveryarticles.com/articles/102089/1/The-Youth-Culture-And-Cell-Phones/Page1.

Strickland, Johnathan. (2008). “How Facebook works: Facebook mobile.” How stuff Works, Inc. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/facebook4.htm

Footnotes

1 A blog, or web log, is a webpage that serves as a personal journal that can generally be accessed by other Internet users (Marshall 2008).

2 3G, or third generation, technology includes multimedia cell phones and smart phones. 3G technology features increased bandwidth and greater transfer rates to accommodate Web-based applications and phone-based audio and video files. More recently, 4G technology has started to make its way into the market. 4G technology is similar to 3G but much faster.

3 GPS is a worldwide satellite navigational system that continuously transmits radio signals that contain information about the geographic location of earth-bound receivers (Marshall and Harris 2008).

Produced by:
The Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre
Research and Development Section