Youth knife crime: ‘We are two or three Snapchat messages away from a fatality’ | STV News

“We are two or three Snapchat messages away from a fatality.” That’s the assessment from Glasgow youth workers, who say Scotland is “years behind” the curve in tackling teenage violence. Community development worker Jamie O’Neill began working with youngsters in the Kingsway area of Glasgow several years ago. His organisation was recently forced to suspend youth work temporarily after he was injured while attempting to intervene in a dispute. Jamie believes social media has accelerated youth violence in recent years, with teenagers participating in group chats involving more than 100 people from across Glasgow. He says speaking directly to vulnerable young people remains the best way of understanding what’s unfolding on the ground. ‘We’re way behind’ STV News Youth worker Jamie O’Neill STV News He argues agencies are “way behind” in understanding the role technology now plays in fuelling disputes. “Social media is hugely important. If something is shared, we’ll find information quicker through a young person rather than an agency. “There’s pressure to stay in the group chat and play up. “What you’re seeing in the group chat you think is real. ‘I’m going to get you tomorrow after school’, ‘maybe I should take a knife with me?’ They’re
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