Policy Press

Social Media Homicide Confessions

Stories of Killers and their Victims

By Elizabeth Yardley

Published

Sep 20, 2017

Page count

201 pages

ISBN

978-1447328018

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 20, 2017

Page count

201 pages

ISBN

978-1447328001

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 20, 2017

Page count

201 pages

ISBN

978-1447328049

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 20, 2017

Page count

201 pages

ISBN

978-1447328056

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Social Media Homicide Confessions

The relationship between crime and social media has become an increasingly important topic in a networked world. However, the use of social media in relation to violent crime is little understood. This unique book, by an expert in the field, addresses this gap by analysing what those involved in homicide do with social media.

Using three international cases in which perpetrators confessed to homicide on social media, it investigates the practices of those involved, providing a groundbreaking conceptual framework of use to criminologists. It argues that such confessions convey important insights not only into the individual offender but also the social and cultural context of contemporary homicide.

"In this revealing study of media technology and homicide, Yardley opens up a whole new field of study. A genuine pathbreaker for today’s criminologists, social scientists, practitioners and policymakers." Steve Hall, Professor of Criminology, Teesside University

"A very valuable and insightful study into the relationships between homicide and social media. A very topical study in terms of the increasing use and growth of social media which will be of great interest to investigators." Peter Hall, Coventry University

Elizabeth Yardley is Professor of Criminology and Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University. Her research explores homicide and violence, with a particular focus on networked media in and around these crimes. She is the creator and host of Crime Bites Podcast and has successfully publicised her research to a wide range of people via her blogposts on contemporary criminological issues at http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/author/id113382/ She tweets as @ProfLizYardley

From ‘happy slapping’ to ‘Facebook murder’: networked media in violent crime

Homicide and media: ‘realities’ and ‘representations’

Media in homicide: from consumption to participation

Approach to the study

The murder of Jennifer Alfonso

The Janzen familicide

The murder of Charles Taylor

Discussion: the complex contexts of social media homicide confessions