Digital Footprint of Crime: Exploring The Relationship between Social Media and Criminal Behaviour

Authors

  • Navin T S Student, Department of Forensic Science , Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Vaishnavi Vivek Sawant Assistant Professor,Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Anisha Kudaskar Assistant Professor,Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Theju Kumar C HoD, Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru- Karnataka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/m74c5j61

Keywords:

Footprint, crime, criminal, social, media, Forensic, Science.

Abstract

Social media has laid a strong foundation in everyone’s daily life. It not only reshaped our communication style but also
our thoughts and routine activities. This research paper explores the relationship between social media and criminal
behaviour. The digital footprints can include messages, shared media, location check-ins and interactions that can be
traced and analysed for behavioural pattern. These digital traces have emerged as crucial tools in both committing and
solving crimes. Digital platforms provided new pathway to engage in criminal activities. The accessibility and reach of
platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat allow criminals to operate anonymously, target victims globally, and
coordinate illegal activities discreetly. Social media can also play a role in the radicalization process, where individuals are
exposed to extremist content, misinformation, or ideological grooming within online communities. By the results obtained
through survey and research articles we found that social media represents a powerful double-edged sword (around 83%),
it plays a major role in both construction and destruction of criminal behaviours. The digital footprint behaviour is the vital
resource for crime detection and prevention. By knowing this relationship it will be an effective tool for developing criminal
zjustice responses, digital literacy education, and ethical guidelines in the digital era. As technology continues to evolve, so
too must our approaches to managing its impact on criminal behaviour and law enforcement practices.

Author Biographies

  • Navin T S, Student, Department of Forensic Science , Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka

    Student,Department of Forensic Science , Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka

  • Vaishnavi Vivek Sawant, Assistant Professor,Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka

    Assistant Professor,Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies,
    Bengaluru, Karnataka

  • Anisha Kudaskar, Assistant Professor,Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru, Karnataka

    Assistant Professor,Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies,
    Bengaluru, Karnataka

  • Theju Kumar C, HoD, Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru- Karnataka

    HoD, Department of Forensic Science & Criminology, Acharya Institute of Graduate Studies, Bengaluru- Karnataka

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Published

2025-11-20

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2026): Medicolegal Update

Section

Original Article

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Digital Footprint of Crime: Exploring The Relationship between Social Media and Criminal Behaviour. (2025). Medico Legal Update, 26(1), 52-58. https://doi.org/10.37506/m74c5j61