Social Media Analysis: Homelessness In Denver

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Homeless in Denver Introduction Denver has seen exceptional economic growth in the last few years but it has also experienced an increase in the number of homeless people. The city has spent millions of dollars trying to deal with the problem but there is no indication that things have improved. The laws that the authorities put in place to discourage homeless activity do not seem to have been successful. Experts say that the problem is that the city has not taken the time to understand the changes that have occurred in the community itself. This paper discusses the ethnography of the ‘new’ homeless. These are younger people with a different culture from that existed before. Few of them beg or prove to be a nuisance. They are millennials who …show more content…

It used to be that homeless people would watch television at store windows and try and borrow newspapers to read. In this day and age, many get their information from social media. One reason for that is the increased access to smartphones and free internet. The homeless do not have to find a friendly person that will let them use a computer. Additionally, many of them were already on social media before they became homeless. They know how powerful the platform is in conjunction with other online resources. Homeless people have groups on Reddit and Facebook. They exchange tips on police raids, weather and where one can get warm food. It is a whole new level of interaction among the homeless. It is an aspect of culture that definitely demands more study by …show more content…

A homeless person in Denver is able to stay in touch with a friend in Los Angeles quite easily. The connectedness has meant that the community is much more social than previous ones. The homeless people might stay away from each other on the streets but they will connect on social media. The sense of community in the groups has been enhanced meaning that many feel like they have support on the streets. They can talk to others about their difficulties without facing them and that must have changed how they view life on the streets. The sense of community might make the homeless life that much better. However, there needs research to establish the exact effects of the