Social Media is a powerful tool. Its use dominates society and social behaviors to a large extent. While social media has a lot of good impact on the people. Moreover, it has a very big contribution in connecting people from different parts of the world. 

Not just that, social media also has a negative impact on people in its own ways. Social media has contributed towards normalizing certain behaviors, a lot of which can be criminal in nature. The present article tries to explore these connections from a psychological and sociological perspective. 

The use of social media has rapidly increased in the past decade. Therefore, this has directly affected the perceptions and behaviors of people. 

Psychological Impact of Social Media 

Social media has a wide scope on society. The constant exposure to social media directly affects people’s ideas about what is “normal” and “acceptable” in society. The pursuit of different likes, shares and comments, pushes people to go to extents that they would otherwise not. Their behaviors are also in a way shaped to get these likes and shares. 

At times, there are certain posts that promote antisocial behaviors, criminal behaviors, or even hate crimes that are added on social media. The likes and comments on these posts show the general sentiment of the public on such issues. Praises on such posts, might promote such behaviors in other people in the society. 

Social Media and Criminality

Many theories provide a psychological explanation on the relation between social media and crime. For instance, theories like social learning theory, and desensitization provides an explanation from the psychological lens. 

According to the Social Learning Theory, individuals learn behaviors by observing others. This effect is much more when the person in question is a famous person or an influential person. Exposure to illegal, harmful or risky behaviors in movies, advertisements and from role models can make these behaviors seem appealing or rewarding. 

Example: 

• Movie stars promoting sugary drinks for child audiences. 

• Famous actors smoking in scenes in movies. 

  

• Violence, murders etc. shown in movies. 

  

Desensitization is a process through which individuals become numb to violent or criminal content through repeated exposure. To give an example for this, it is such a commonplace scenario when someone breaks a rule in the movie to do something heroic. 

Remember Jai and Aditi’s famous airport scene from the movie Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na……..Cute na? But was that really legal ? 

Cyberbullying and Harassment: Gateway to Criminal Behavior 

Cyberbullying is equally important related to social media, criminality and mental health. Anonymity and lack of physical presence lowers people's inhibitions about consequences of their behavior. This encourages aggressive or harmful behaviors. 

Cyberbullying has an impact on the mental health of both victims and the perpetrators. Cyberbullying can also escalate into other criminal activities like stalking or physical aggression. Social media also makes a lot of information about individuals easy to access. Therefore, instances of stalking have also increased. 

Influence of Viral Challenges 

Viral challenges have been an in thing since quite a while now. These challenges come from a psychological need for belonging and a need for validation. This makes individuals, specially teenagers, vulnerable to participate in challenges even at the cost of their own rationality and at a lot of times, their own safety. 

Remember the BLUE WHALE CHALLENGE? It went so out of hand that the Department of Justice, Office of Cybercrime had to release an advisory against it. 

Preventive Measures and Importance of Awareness 

Digital literacy, responsible use of social media and its psychological effects is an important aspect. People should be educated for the same. This can help to reduce the susceptibility to negative influences. 

Role of parents and schools in this topic is an important one. It is important that these care giving parts of the childs like create a safe, positive and accepting environment. Additionally, there must be a positive digital environment around the child. 

Mental health care accessibility and mental health care support is an important aspect of in the role of social media in criminal behavior. In times of need, parents, children and victims must be encouraged to seek help.

Learn more about managing social media’s impact on mental health by visiting Empowering Teens and Parents with Positive Psychology