Many gangs and criminal organizations are recruiting new members through the Internet—even using popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to do so.

About 20 percent of gang members say their organizations either manage their own website or maintain a presence on a social networking outlet; half say they’ve posted videos of their gangs in action online. Some say they use Facebook and Twitter to pick fights—using, often, coded language. A “biscuit” or “clickety” stands in for gun, for instance.

Of course, this social networking presence can make it easier to crack down on a gang’s illegal activity. Last year, police in New York City arrested 43 gang members in relation to crimes they talked about on Twitter. (USA Today)

Paul Asay has covered religion for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for Plugged In and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He lives in Colorado Springs with wife Wendy and his two children. Follow him on Twitter.