The influence of social media on transgressive behaviours among young people in Nottingham, United Kingdom

As previous research suggests, young people continue to use the digital environment to explore important life experiences. With a lack of support from the immediate offline environment, research indicates that young people may try to gain recognition, acceptance and a sense of belonging from engagement with the online environment. As the offline space has always played a vital role in the history and life span of peer influence, the online environment continues to provide young people with virtual space to explore and construct behaviours. Although it has been acknowledged that young people are influenced by their immediate environments, there is a dearth of literature exploring social media use, features and affordance and its relationship with transgressive behaviour among young people in Nottingham.

Consequently, the gap this research sought to address is whether exposure to or engagement with social media platforms and activities influences online and offline transgressive behaviour amongst young people in Nottingham. To examine, this study investigates the influence of aggressive peer interaction, behavioural construction and use of social media platforms among young people in Nottingham. Using a multiple qualitative method and a thematic analysis approach, this study presents the findings of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with young people aged 18-25 years in Nottingham.

Findings from this study suggest that social media features such as comments, tags, location settings, video streaming and image and video sharing heighten threats on SNS, thereby increasing the likelihood of perpetrating transgressive behaviour offline. Findings also suggest that young people can exercise self-control and make rational choices regardless of their existing ability to construct Identity and learn the methods and motives to become offenders from their online and offline environment. Findings further indicate that the fear of missing out and the fear of social exclusion impacts and determines young people’s continuous use of social media and their response to transgressive behaviour among peers online and offline.

Finally, this study concludes that critical consideration should be given to the evolving and continuous use of SNS and how harmful materials and activities online can shape and influence transgressive behaviours among young people in Nottingham.