In interviews with NBC News, 10 current and former meth users described how modern-day social media platforms and communication tools like Zoom have fundamentally changed the experience of people usingMeth, unlike opiates and other types of drugs, can keep users awake for days at a time, and often leaves them craving a level of social and sexual connectivity not found with many other drugs.
While hardcore pornography streamed, members of the audience with lightly coded usernames referencing “Meff,” “clouds” and “slamming” showed themselves injecting and smoking meth, having sex, masturbating, passed out and eating lunch. For meth users on Zoom, it was just another day. Today, it’s easy to find Zoom links to rooms on social media sites like Reddit, Twitter, the group chat platform Discord, MeWe — an alternative social media platform
Google spokesperson Ned Adriance highlighted the company’s efforts to include addiction helpline numbers at the top of search results related to addiction. But only a small number of NBC News’ searches triggered this feature. A Discord spokesperson said, “Discord’s policies prohibit users from promoting, encouraging or engaging in any illegal behavior. When we become aware of this kind of activity, we take immediate action, including banning users and shutting down servers.
Like Paul, Robert began to find a sense of community in the Zoom groups, and almost exclusively turned to them when he was high.Zoom users often encourage people to use more drugs than they might in in-person groups, Robert said, egging people on to smoke and inject more in the chat. Reddit is home to a variety of meth-based communities, including r/meth, which has more than 76,000 members. It’s one of dozens of groups on the platform that openly host content that glorifies meth use, including links to Zoom chats and other platforms. In r/meth, users post photos and videos of themselves using meth, seek advice on topics like cleaning up spilled drugs, and post personal ads looking for other users.
“We have dedicated teams that enforce our policies across the platform,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that some communities, like r/meth, were allowed to continue to exist on the platform with harm reduction in mind — providing a space for drug users to connect and be together virtually rather than alone.
On Twitter, users with thousands and tens of thousands of followers shared Zoom links to meth-focused rooms, post meth videos using hashtags like #CrystalMeth, and publish pornography that shows people injecting what appears to be methamphetamine. The videos can bring in hundreds of thousands of views. On meth-focused accounts, Twitter’s algorithmic recommendation feature frequently surfaces other accounts devoted to the drug.the sale or purchase of drugs on its platform.