Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Tweets Is Watching — Street Gangs Using Twitter
By
Ben Muessig
Published Nov 29, 2009
Modified Nov 29, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Muessig
Published Nov 29, 2009
Modified Nov 29, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The city's street gangs have turned to Twitter to communicate amongst themselves, taunt their foes, and plan brawls, according to the Daily News. Police even think an adolescent might have been shot in the legs on Lenox Avenue over an online turf war started by the Original Young Gangsters clique on Twitter.
The paper perused the nexus of over-sharing for the mentions of Original Young Gangsters and its nickname, Jeff Mob, and found examples of inter-gang trash-talking including: "I knoe bitches from oyg that would dead mob yah s--t in harlem." A 15-year-old member of The New Dons, who said his name was Lil V, claims that Twitter is useful for "settin' up the fights" and making plans, and noted that his crew keeps their pages private and use newfangled lingo that investigators might have trouble interpreting.
Thankfully, cops are tracking the so-called "tweet gangs," according to the tabloid. "It is another tool ... just like old phone records," a police source said. "We can go through them [messages] to track these guys." Amazing, considering that the agency still hasn't made the transition from typewriters to computers.
Tagged
jeff mob
original young gangsters
Street gangs
the new dons
tweet gangs
Ben Muessig
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.
Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
City data shows seven people have been killed and 74 were seriously injured in crashes along the street over the last five years.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
City data shows seven people have been killed and 74 were seriously injured in crashes along the street over the last five years.
By
Stephen Nessen
Man killed in police-involved shooting in Moonachie, NJ
By
Kaya Laterman
Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends NYC racial equity leader's term after Council pushes back on replacement
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .