A systematic analysis of the examination of delinquent and victimized children trough social media

The aim of this study is to systematically examine the court cases, adjudicated by the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) between 2014 and 2024 and publicly accessible, concerning children drawn into crime through social media platforms. For this purpose, searches were conducted in the Yargıtay Decision Search database using a set of predetermined keywords. Due to its suitability for systematic analysis, the deductive analysis method was employed. The study was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA Statement. A total of one hundred ninety-four case files that met the inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. The case files were coded and analyzed through content analysis based on the following variables: case number, main file number, decision number, Court of Cassation decision date, first court decision date, keyword combination, city, court type, Court of Cassation court type, type of offense, platform, child's role in the offense, child's age range, child's gender, Court of Cassation decision, reason for the decision, decision duration, time between the first court and Court of Cassation decision dates, and case summary. The findings revealed a total of twenty-nine different types of crimes committed through social media, among which sexual abuse offenses were the most prevalent. It was determined that children aged between twelve and fifteen, and female children in particular, were more frequently involved in the cases. The results indicated that children were mostly in the position of victims. Facebook was identified as the platform most frequently associated with the crimes. It was also found that crimes occurred more often in densely populated cities compared to less populated ones. Regarding the distribution of the initial court decisions, the years 2015, 2016, and 2022 were prominent. In the distribution of decision dates by the Court of Cassation, an increase was observed from 2017 to 2023, with the Court generally rendering its decisions within two years. Examination of the time gap between the first court and Court of Cassation decision dates showed that the maximum duration was ten years, with concentrations around one to two years and seven to eight years. The findings indicate that social media platforms constitute a risk factor in both drawing children into criminal behavior and exposing them to victimization.