This research theme explores the links between adolescent use of technology, and pathways into various forms of cyberdeviance, including hacking, cyberfraud, cyberbullying, cyberhate, cybervioleance, sexting, and image-based abuse. The projects contained within this theme are both longitudinal and cross-sectional, and seek to better understand the social, technical and development factors that are associated with youth engagement in cybercrime.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

South Australia Digital Youth Survey

This research project explores how young people use digital technology and how this changes over the course of adolescence. We are interested in how different factors (individual, social, and contextual) shape the kinds and extent of technology use, and in particular, patterns of internet usage that may be risky.

This research is funded by the Australian Research Council.

Adolescent Misrepresentation Online Project

This research project examines how and why adolescents misrepresent themselves online. In particular, this project considers adolescent experiences of circumventing and accessing online ‘adult-based platforms’ (e.g. a platform which requires users to be of, or above, the age of 18-years-old, including online adult dating sites and subscription-based accounts).

Featured research outputs

links to research outputs

Academic Journal articles

1. Exploring the Role of Self- Control Across Distinct Patterns of Cyber-Deviance in Emerging Adolescence (2024)

2. Examining the Psychosocial and Behavioral Factors Associated with Adolescent Engagement in Multiple Types of Cyberdeviance: Results from an Australian Study (2023)

3. Exploring the Relationship between Opportunity and Self-Control in Youth Exposure to and Sharing of Online Hate Content (2022)

4. Applying Routine Activities Theory to Assess On and Offline Bullying Victimization among Australian Youth (2022)

5. Assessing the role of self-control and technology access on adolescent sexting and sext dissemination (2021)

6. Assessing the role of opportunity and low self-control in juvenile hacking (2020)

7. Young People, the Internet, and Emerging Pathways into Criminality: A Study of Australian Adolescents (2018)

8. Digital Drift and the “Sense of Injustice”: Counter-Productive Policing of Youth Cybercrime (2018)

9. Digital drift and the criminal interaction order (2015)

Reports

1. Digital Youth Survey - Year 1 Results (2019)

2. Digital Youth Survey - Year 2 Results (2020)

3. Digital Youth Survey - Year 3 Results (2021)

4. Digital Youth Survey - Year 4 Results (2022)

5. Identifying risk factors associated with adolescent cyber-deviance in Australia: Implications for Policy and Practice (2020)