Money & the Missing: An Examination of Victims, Paid Exposure, and Recovery of Missing Persons

• In Event: Media Influences on the Reporting of Crime and Suspicious Activity

Abstract

Social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been utilized as the new “Milk Carton Campaign” for missing persons cases. A growing body of research suggests that both traditional and social media outlets vary in their exposure of missing persons cases, based on the characteristics of the victim (such as gender, race, and age). The current study builds on this burgeoning literature by examining the ways in which users engage with missing persons posts, as well as the use of paid exposure to increase media attention and (potentially) decrease disparity in exposure. Matched pairs of missing persons cases were created, and the effects of monetizing posts were examined as they relate to engagement level and demographic characteristics of the victims. Overall findings suggest that monetizing missing persons posts significantly increases engagement and exposure; however, racial and gender differences remain present. The role of recovery of the victim, as it relates to exposure and disparity, is also examined and discussed. Implications for practitioners are highlighted.

Authors

• Michelle Jeanis, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

• Caitlyn Muniz, The University of Texas at El Paso