The Impact of Social Media on Juvenile Delinquency
Abstract
This article explores the impact of social media on juvenile delinquency and countermeasures to strengthen the online protection of teenagers from multiple perspectives. Teenagers are easily influenced by their peers and online trends. On social media, unrestricted comments, the pursuit of likes and followers, and exposure to cyberbullying can lead them to imitate harmful behaviors or make poor choices, which may distort their values, also led them to commit criminal acts. This study, grounded in social learning theory, general strain theory, and the de-individuation effect, examines how adolescents are influenced to imitate hazardous challenges, manage stress through deviant behaviors, and participate in cyberbullying under diminished personal accountability. Empirical evidence, including the “coma challenge” tragedy, social media–induced violent incidents, and cases of cyberbullying, highlights the profound psychological and legal ramifications of such behaviors. To avoid these risks preventive measures can be taken at the family, school, technology platform, legal, and social levels to create a positive online environment for teenagers.
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