What do influencers, Nordic child soldiers and luxury villas in Dubai have in common?
Danish criminologist David Sausdal researches how children and young people are recruited into gang crime, and how gangs have moved from the streets to social media and encrypted apps.
He argues that influencers and young gang members are both reflecting the same dream: fast money, visible wealth, status and the freedom to be their own boss. On social media, this dream is becoming increasingly visible – and increasingly difficult for young people scrolling through their feeds to ignore.
What happens when a new status culture on social media becomes intertwined with criminal networks? According to Sausdal, a new, brutal gig economy is emerging for young, vulnerable people, where an assignment can range from a minor theft to a contract killing.
David Sausdal is a Danish criminologist, gang researcher and lecturer at Lund University in Sweden. He leads the research project «GANG_REC: Researching Gang Recruitment and Culture in the 21st Century».
Please note that this event will be conducted in Danish/Norwegian.
