The predictability of high-risk and criminal behaviors of the offenders of Tehran Correctional Center; emphasizing the role of social media

From a media studies standpoint, predicting the occurrence of risky and criminal behaviors using variables such as the level of usage, usage motivation, and social norms promoting in social media is possible. This cross-sectional survey aims to understand the relationship between the pattern of social media consumption and the emergence of such behaviors. Using a census method 98 adolescents and youth from the correction and rehabilitation center in Tehran participated in this study. Findings shown a positive relationship between the “ease of using” social media and the occurrence of such behaviors suggesting that the easier the access to social media, the higher likelihood of these behaviors. Social media usage for “social interaction” and “entertaining “also have a statistically significant correlation with the engagement in risky and criminal behaviors. A significant relationship between the level of social media usage and the engagement in such behaviors was not established. A medium but meaningful positive correlation observed between engaging in such behaviors and “social norms”. Given the potential of social media for behavioral interventions, examining this potential with a focus on consumption pattern and social norms for correcting risky and criminal behaviors, as well as promoting healthy behaviors, is recommended for future studies.
Keywords: Social Media, Risky and Criminal Behaviors, Correction and Rehabilitation Center, Adolescents and Youth, Social Norms
 
 
Introduction
Today, risky behaviors of younger generation are influenced by the widespread influence of the Internet and social media (Olpin, et. al; 2023, 20). In fact, the increasing use of social media and the possible emergence of risky behaviors have drawn the attention of researchers to investigate the effects of such media on different age groups, including teenagers and young people who are basically more vulnerable in the online environment (Soh, et.al; 2018,35). Jafarzadepour (2016) states that the interactivity and greater participation of virtual media users in content production and publishing has more effects on them, compared to mainstream media.
This study aims to examine the relationships between the pattern of social media usage and the emergence of risky behaviors among teenagers and young people who, due to the occurrence of at least one type of dangerous or criminal behavior in are kept in the correctional center. The three high-risk behaviors that have been investigated in this research are: sharing very private photo or video on social media; using social media to find someone to talk to about sexual issues; and sending addresses or contact numbers to people on social media.
Material and methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out quantitatively by using a questionnaire with 39 items. Due to the small sample size (98 individuals) of adolescents and youth in the correction and rehabilitation center in Tehran, all individuals were selected by census method and participated in the study. Data collection process completed during a period of 7 months. Data analysis carried out by using descriptive statistics include mean, standard deviation, and frequency distribution and inferential statistics including Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression.
Discussion
Based on the results, a statistically significant correlation between ease of use, social interaction, and entertaining with risky and criminal behaviors was observed, but the correlation between information search and pastime with such behaviors was not confirmed. The findings shown that social media usage with the aim of social interaction has a statistically significant relationship with high-risk and criminal behavior. Vanucci et al. (2020) argues that the relationship between social media usage and risky behaviors indicate that adolescents who are prone to risky behaviors or often engage in such behaviors are drawn to social media interactions to express and satisfy their risky needs.
Examining the relationship between the time of social media use and committing risky and criminal behaviors in the present study showed that there is no statistically significant correlation between these two variables. Contrary to the findings of the present study, some previous studies have shown a significant relationship between these two variables. Wente et al. (2020) have stated in their study that more use of social media increases the probability of some risky behaviors. The findings of the current research also show that there is a moderate positive correlation between committing risky and criminal behaviors with social norms, and this correlation is also statistically significant. These findings are in line with the results of Hillen's (2015) study, which states that adolescents and young people participate in risky and criminal behaviors to get more attention from their peers. Observing such behaviors on social media make teenagers perceive them more common than they actually are.
Put it in a nutshell, the current study predicted 38% of the variance of committing risky and criminal behaviors based on the variables under investigation. As stated by Hansen et al. (2018), combining different models and theories compared to a single model can identify more predictive variables in the context of high-risk behaviors.
Result
In the current research, the positive and statistically significant relationship between the ease of using social media and the occurrence of risky and criminal behavior among adolescents' delinquents shows that the easier the access to social media is, the possibility of risky and criminal behavior among this group of individuals. The use of social media for people who seek information may not lead to risky and criminal behavior, while other motives and reasons such as social interaction or pastime may lead risky and criminal behavior. Therefore, it seems that the motivation and reasons for using social media as a mediating variable can create more understanding about the relationship between the use of social media and the occurrence of risky and criminal behaviors. In addition to the pattern of social media consumption, social norms were also introduced as another important factor in the occurrence of risky and criminal behaviors. Given the potential of social media for behavioral interventions, examining this potential with a focus on consumption pattern and social norms for correcting risky and criminal behaviors, as well as promoting healthy behaviors, is recommended for future studies.