Socium

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has fundamentally changed the social environment in which children and adolescents grow, communicate and develop their identifies. Social media platforms, smartphones and internet-based communication provide young people with opportunities for education, self-expression, social interaction and access to information. However, the expansion of the digital environment has also created new forms of social risk, including cyberbullying, online victimization, problematic internet use and various forms of online delinquent behavior. This article examines the relationship between juvenile delinquency and the digital environment, focusing particularly on social media use, cyberbullying, smartphone dependence, problematic internet use, peer influence, parental monitoring and social relationships. The study is based on a comparative analysis of scientific literature and empirical research concerning adolescents and children involved in delinquent or risky behavior. The findings indicate that digital technologies should not be regarded as an independent or direct cause of juvenile delinquency. Rather, their influence becomes more significant when digital exposure interacts with family difficulties, inadequate social, control, negative peer relationships, victimization, problematic internet use and insufficient parental supervision. The analysis also demonstrates that cyber delinquency and traditional offline delinquency have both common and distinctive determinants. Therefore, preventive interventions should consider the specific characteristics of online behavior instead of simply transferring traditional delinquency-prevention models to the digital environment. Effective prevention requires cooperation between families, schools, social services and communities. Attention should be given to digital literacy, constructive parental communication, early identification of risk factors, psychosocial support and individualized social rehabilitation. A comprehensive approach can contribute to reducing both online and offline delinquent behavior and strengthening the social integration of vulnerable adolescents.