The Dangers of Digital Deviance Among Unemployed Youth: A Study in Digital Anthropology

Abstract

Studies in various social sciences indicate a relationship between deviance among youth and unemployment. This study attempts to qualitatively explore the relationship between unemployment and the resulting deviant behaviors through the use of social media. Often, individuals join deviant organizations, large or small, through these platforms, such as terrorism and various forms of deviance. This study draws upon established academic and methodological achievements in the social sciences, with a focus on cultural anthropology, which specifically addresses the issue of unemployed youth. The study considers the resulting free time, psychological frustration, and lack of family or community oversight, as well as the privacy afforded by digital independence. The youth-focused platforms targeted by this study, and the fact that unemployment drives some young people towards quick profits through social media platforms via illegal means (fraud, dubious cryptocurrencies, trafficking in prohibited substances, etc.), highlight the importance of warning against long-term unemployment, which is also a matter of national security, as it can be a catalyst for deviant behavior, both physical and digital.