Social media has become increasingly popular over the years, with many declaring it the preferred news source of many Americans. While there is no observable relationship between exposure to media violence and violent behavior, research has shown there to be a correlation between them.
Research shows that teens have become heavily reliant on social media. According to Pew Research Centre, Youtube, TikTok and Instagram rank among the top three platforms consistently used by teens. About nine in every 10 teens in the U.S. report using YouTube, while around six in ten use TikTok and Instagram.
Without proper safeguards for filtering news, videos and violent content, social media strategists risk reinforcing a dangerous climate for teenagers, in which they are exposed to both violent and disturbing content. So what is it about social media that has teens addicted? Why do some teens engage in risky, violent and criminal behaviors?
To understand this phenomenon, it is important to understand the idea of performance crimes. In hopes of gaining popularity online, teenagers engage in online dares and tasks. These are crimes individuals record themselves committing in hopes of garnering social media fame.
Additionally, crime-promoting accounts promote “anonymous individuals for their, often dangerous, criminal behaviour.” A popular CPA mantra is “No Face, No Case.” If the individual’s face is not exposed in the videos, then police are unable to identify them and charge them for their crimes. As a result, the perpetrator is able to evade detection and accountability for their actions.
One instance of social media driving teenagers towards criminal acts happened when teens were caught vandalising houses in Westlake. In July 2025, a group of young teens were caught on security camera “slamming their bodies into garage doors.” This act of vandalism happened because of the teens’ desire to gain traction on social media sites.
Similarly, one notable fad has been stealing cars “for kicks,” according to a 2023 New York Times article. In Memphis last year, there were around 11,000 cars stolen mainly by either teenagers or young adults. This rise highlights the growing popularity of social media trends and their influence on young individuals, as the number of cars stolen in prior years was only half of last year’s total.
The Memphis police chief commented on this situation saying, “We know that a lot of our young people are breaking into cars and stealing cars as almost a dare, or a trend, right now.” Teens observe other social media users sharing their experiences stealing cars and then they recreate those exact same crimes to gain followers. It’s a constant, vicious cycle.
What remains highly debatable is not only the irresponsibility of the teenagers who follow these trends but actually the accessibility of information on how these crimes can be executed on social media sites.
While social media exposure may drive individuals towards criminal behavior, the developers of social media platforms must also be held accountable for allowing illegal acts to be displayed.
Understanding the psychological effects that social media can have on young individuals is important. As a teen, one’s brain is still developing and constantly evolving due to neuroplasticity. Engaging with potentially harmful social media content online, such as content related to risk-taking has been linked with self-harm and in rare instances, death.
So why do individuals follow trends? One of the main reasons is simple — to be accepted. Individuals may follow trends to avoid social judgement. ” Social media drives surges of dopamine to the brain, which can cause young people to become addicted, forcing them to keep up with the latest trends. . This creates a trap cycle in which social media becomes more difficult to resist.
It can, therefore, be argued that social media is –– to some extent –– driving individuals towards crime. It is broadly influencing the way that teens behave in society in a harmful and negative manner. Although users should be held accountable for their actions, it is ultimately the obligation of social media owners to curate and develop systems which detect these negative posts and filter them off of social media feeds before it’s too late.
