Volume : 11, Issue : 7, JUL 2025

INCREASING CYBER CRIMES AMONG URBAN YOUTH IN INDIA: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

ANAMIKA SINGH KUSHWAHA, PROF. RAMJEE PRASAD

Abstract

India’s digital revolution, driven by initiatives like Digital India, has empowered urban youth aged 15–30, with over 70% regularly using smartphones and social media. However, this connectivity has fuelled a surge in cybercrimes, including cyber bullying, hacking, online fraud, cyber pornography, and social media impersonation, particularly in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. National Crime Records Bureau data from 2023 highlights a significant rise in cases involving young perpetrators and victims, driven by anonymity, peer pressure, economic instability, and limited digital literacy. These crimes cause emotional, financial, and social harm, disproportionately affecting young women and straining India’s legal systems. Contributing factors include a generational digital divide, lack of cyber ethics education, and psychological stressors like academic pressure and unemployment. This article analyzes these sociological dimensions, revealing how urban anonymity and online subcultures normalize deviance. It proposes stronger cyber laws, youth-focused awareness campaigns, digital ethics in schools, and mental health support to foster responsible digital citizenship and curb cybercrime effectively.

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