Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Cyberdelinquency is a composite term that captures the recognition of new deviances or crimes related to the online behavior of young people. Although delinquency and juvenile delinquency often have specific legal definitions, the terms usually refer to antisocial behavior by minors that may include “petty” crimes such as theft or vandalism, or other behaviors such as bullying or drunkenness. Although similar behaviors may be observed in adults, they may either not be labeled as a crime, by virtue of the belief that adults make informed choices (e.g., to view pornography), or be considered as a more serious crime, as adults should “know better.” As a disruptive technology, the Internet produces new behaviors or changes to behavior. Amongst them are those that seem antisocial and/or that are, or are subsequently, labeled as criminal (Denegri-Knott & Molesworth 2002; Denegri-Knott & Taylor 2005). Such behaviors may be referred to as cyberdelinquency. However, the demographics of many young Internet users suggest that care should be taken with direct comparisons to other types of delinquency. Juvenile delinquency is often associated with poverty, yet the majority of young Internet users are likely to come from more affluent backgrounds. Cyberdelinquency may include sharing music or other software among friends or via peer-to-peer services without regard for copyright ownership; ... log in or subscribe to read full text