New Media and Crime among Adolescents in Anaocha LGA of Anambra Nigeria

What is it about?

This study sought to examine the new media and crime among adolescents in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria The study employed the cross-sectional descriptive design method involving a quantitative approach which included a survey of 224 adolescents between the ages of 13-19 years selected by cluster and simple random sampling techniques from five communities in the LGA. The instrument for data collection was interviewer-administered questionnaire while the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in analyzing the data. Findings revealed that phones were the most prevalent new media in use among adolescents particularly the male ones. Also, majority expressednegative view about the influence of the new media on adolescents, with sexting and cyber-bullying as the most common crimes associated with new media. Furthermore, psychological trauma was identified as the major effect of cyber-bullying on adolescent victims. This study recommended enlightenment of adolescents and other stakeholders in order to curtail the level of crimes committed through the new media. Parents and significant others are advised to keep a close watch on their adolescent children and wards while they are browsing the internet, and this will hopefully control criminal activities associated with new media use among adolescents in Anaocha LGA in particular and Nigeria in general.

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Why is it important?

Adolescents immerse themselves in these new media with social networking sites which play major roles in their lives. This is linked to developing sexual attitudes and behavior and it often affects sexual risk-taking and health. This study examined the problems and crimes that can be associated with the new media and how best the rate of crime among adolescents who use the new media could be controlled.

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