The Impact of Social Media on Juvenile Delinquency

Yu Chen

doi:10.54254/2753-7048/2025.KM27605

Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public MediaOpen access

The Impact of Social Media on Juvenile Delinquency

Research Article

Open Access

The Impact of Social Media on Juvenile Delinquency

Yu Chen ^1*

¹ Rosedale Global High School

^*Corresponding author: yujunchen0727@gmail.com

Published on 14 October 2025

LNEP Vol.126

ISSN (Print): 2753-7056

ISSN (Online): 2753-7048

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-327-7

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-328-4

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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.

Keywords:

Social Media, Impact, Juvenile Delinquency

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References

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References

[1]. Cai, Y. (2024). The Role of Social Media in Influencing Juvenile Delinquent Behavior. Communications in Humanities Research, 52(1), 1–8.

[3]. Pérez-Torres, V. (2024). Social media: A digital social mirror for identity development during adolescence. Current Psychology, 43(26), 22170–22180.

[5]. Agnew, R. (2017). Building on the Foundation of General Strain Theory. 311–354.

[6]. Zimbardo, P. (1969). APA PsycNet. Psycnet.apa.org. https: //psycnet.apa.org/record/1971-08069-001

[7]. Adolescents on Social Media: Aggression and Cyberbullying.Psychology in Russia: State of the Art. (n.d.). Psychologyinrussia.com. https: //psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=9607

[8]. McKenna’s Story | Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2024). Federal Bureau of Investigation. https: //www.fbi.gov/video-repository/mckennas-story/view‌

Cite this article

Chen,Y. (2025). The Impact of Social Media on Juvenile Delinquency. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,126,33-37.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceeding of ICIHCS 2025 Symposium: Integration & Boundaries: Humanities/Arts, Technology and Communication

ISBN: 978-1-80590-327-7(Print) / 978-1-80590-328-4(Online)

Editor: Enrique Mallen

Conference website: https://2025.icihcs.org/Kunming.html

Conference date: 21 October 2025

Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media

Volume number: Vol.126

ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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