The Use of Virtual Technologies and Juvenile Delinquency

• In Event: The Influence of Sports, the Media, and Technology on Delinquency and Cyber-Risk

Abstract

The “virtual world” has become a major locus of juvenile activity, along with the family, school, and face-to-face interaction with peers. However, research on individual virtual life and delinquency is limited and often basic, frequently focusing on the relationship between the amount of time spent on virtual activities and delinquency. But like the family, school, and peers, the virtual life of adolescents may vary along a number of dimensions that influence the likelihood of delinquency. Using data from the Technology, Teen Dating Violence and Abuse, and Bullying in Three States survey, our paper better describes the dimensions of virtual life, including the frequency and location of virtual activities, the level of supervision over such activities, the types of virtual activities (e.g., socializing versus research), and the extent and nature of cyber-victimization. We explore the effect of these dimensions on delinquency, including certain types of cyber-crime.

Authors

• Daniel Semenza, Emory University

• Robert Agnew, Emory University