Can someone get in trouble over what they say on social media?

[Crystal]

My uncle is seriously mentally ill and we've just found out that he has a twitter account. On the twitter account he talks about wanting to tie up and have sex with my cousins, who at the time when he posted it were only 13 and 15. He also has talked about wanting to kill "mortals", who are people he doesn't like and who he thinks are trying to kill him. He also believes that if he kills my grandpa that he won't actually die because he's immortal. I'm scared because his twitter is full of very sexual and violent messages, a lot toward certain people in the family, especially my grandparents (his mom and step-dad).

My question is, can the police even do anything when someone makes threats over social media?

[railroad dave]

under the 2007 homegrown radicalization and terrorist act ( sec1955d ) the government , without a warrant , saves EVERY picture , text , twitter , IM , facebook , youtube , this question and answer , etc ,etc , forever , for later use against you .

look it up , scary huh ?

[Brielle]

A threat is a threat, no matter where it is, so yes he could. Although, if he is actually mental, and it is proven that his illness "provoked" him to say these things, then I don't think will get in trouble.

[R]

if a shrink says so him or anyone else can be locked away for thier / others protection

there they will rape and torture him then pump him full of drugs then let him lose on the street without notifing anyone in your family and then when he is out of meds and out in public kills someone they will kill him and slap each other on back for a job well done