Pattern of Cybercrime Among Adolescents: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Background: Cybercrime is common phenomenon at present both developed and developing countries. Young generation, especially teenagers now engaged internet frequently and they commit cybercrime frequently in Bangladesh. Objective: To assess consequences of cybercrime among teenagers was the motto of the study. Methods and tools: This study was a cross-sectional study, descriptive in nature. Non-probability accidental sampling technique has been applied to select the sample because of the nonfinite population and the sample size was 167. A printed semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: The study identified consequences of cybercrime on various aspects of individual and social life such as lack of trust and confidence hinders profitable transaction, economic loss, tarnishing the country reputation towards foreigners, denial of innocent Bangladeshi’s opportunity abroad, loss of life in various ways, inimical to the progress and development in the country, and favor of loss of employment. Respondents thought that social network users are the prime victims of cybercrime (92.8%). Moreover, financial institutions also another victim (82.6%) followed by mobile internet users (80.2%). About 80.2% said that criminals were always on the net, 82.0% told of spend money lavishly, 67.1% in favor of riding the best automobiles, 65.9% for date the most beautiful lady, 62.3% for mainly clubbers, 47.3% on indulged in religious activities and 45.5% in live like kings in the society. Conclusion: The study concluded that consequences of cybercrimes are alarming and increasing day by day. Finally, it is recommending that the private public partnership and execution of existing laws can be controlling this crime along with gray area of social media and net-work.