Perceptions of the Seriousness of Internet Deviance and Their Influence on Attitudes about Reducing Internet Deviance among Ninth Grade Students
San-Yi Li · 2006
This study defines Internet deviance/crime as Internet behavior violates the law or social norms. These deviances include invading others' properties on the Internet, obtaining illegal profits through the Internet, and hurting others through the Internet. The survey data were collected from a random sample of 496 ninth grade students in 15 probability proportionate multistage cluster classes in Taichung City and County, Taiwan in 2005. The results show that about 59%-78% of the students recognize three out of ten types of Internet deviance as not serious deviance, which is substantially different from results obtained in 1999 and 2000 Louisiana surveys. Students report that the best way to reduce Internet deviance is Internet users to control themselves. It is hoped that, this study can increase the students' awareness of the Internet deviance problem and several other useful ways to deal with the Internet problem. Other possible solutions include law enforcement officers asking the Internet users not to commit Internet deviance, friends or classmates encouraging the Internet users not to commit Internet deviance, parents or teachers asking the Internet users not to commit Internet deviance, using computer technology to discourage Internet deviance, and school administrators asking the Internet users not to commit Internet deviance.