CALL: (888) 972-7736
No self-control, peer influence can cause teens to commit cyber crimes
By Staff Writer
 A new study by a criminologist at Michigan State University shows that teens who commit cyber crimes - such as computer hacking, online bullying, digital piracy and watching pornography - may be influenced to do so by their peers and a lack of self-control. In order to arrive at this conclusion, the researcher conducted a survey of 435 teenagers in a Kentucky school district. The results from these assessments indicated that the biggest predictor of whether or not children would engage in cyber crime was their friends. The criminologist said that youths who have friends who participate in negative online behaviors are more likely to do the same. The researcher said that these findings suggest that parents must play a larger role in ensuring that their children are practicing safe Internet habits. Adults should also be aware of how their children use the computer and who their friends are, he said. Parents who believe that their child is participating in cyber crime may want to consider enrolling him or her in a therapeutic boarding school.
|