| dc.description.abstract | In the modern context, digital media is inundating each aspect of life, and its effect on
youthful behavior remains a crucial concern globally. Based on this background, the present paper
carries out a thorough analysis of the relationship that exists between digital media and juvenile
offenses, with a special reference to Sri Lanka, bringing relative insight from the USA and India. The
study uses qualitative research methodologies by way of doctrinal analysis and comparative legal
studies to show that exposure to violent content, incidents of cyberbullying, and engaging in online
deviant communities can seriously influence adolescent behavior in a way that will move them toward
delinquency. The study reveals gaps in the present legal framework of Sri Lanka, which does not
address the fast pace and pervasiveness of the impact of digital media on its youth. Points to highly
innovative reforms tailored towards the protection of children and adolescents against the excess of
risks occasioned by online environments, recommendations for changes in laws, educational programs
towards digital literacy and responsible online conduct, as well as community-based interventions
aimed at supporting environments and rehabilitation among juveniles affected by digital media-related
delinquency. The main concept to the concerns of this study is a clarion call for an all-inclusive
approach that will bring legal reforms, strategies for educational programs, and community programs
together. Hence, it can safeguard the youth while enabling them to negotiate digital landscapes by
cultivating safety and responsibility. Ultimately, the paper will strive to derive practical implications
that should foster the well-being and healthy development of youth within the pervasive presence of
digital media and facilitate their full integration into society. | en_US |
