A Psycho-Legal Analysis of Cyber Behaviours of Children: Legal Responses to Online Delinquencies

Abstract

The contemporary digital revolution offers an unprecedented avenue for global connectivity and learning for children, but it simultaneously exposes them to an insidious cyber vulnerability, including grooming, pornography, bullying, trafficking, and exploitation, ruining their innocence to a ‘beyond-imagination’ trauma. This research paper analyses the philosophical dimension of cyber behaviour, revealing the risks of identity crisis, psychological trauma and social withdrawal. The paper also analyses the online behaviour of children, including excessive screen engagement, limited social interactions and exploratory navigations, establishing how their innate curiosity leads them to the trap of the faceless online predators, harmful content and peer aggression in cyberspace, sometimes culminating in delinquent behaviours in them.

Cyberspace has a unique nature that has no borders or shape. Existing legal framework in India, like the Bhartiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012 and the Information Technology Act of 2000, provide a comprehensive deterrence, but fails to prove effective because of the enforcement gap, jurisdictional hurdles and lack of digital literacy and stringent judicial scrutiny.

Literature review also reflects empirical gaps due to scarcity of longitudinal data, rural under-representation and non-synchronised psycho-legal interventions. Drawing from the studies of on-screen induced behaviour and awareness model of Hinduja and Patchin (2024), this research paper suggests a multidimensional psycho-legal framework while effortlessly integrating the awareness and preventive education with therapeutic rehabilitation and technological reforms

The paper proposes technology-driven innovative safeguards to protect children in cyberspace. The dual nature of cyberspace demands collective action from parents, platforms, lawmakers, enforcement agents and psychologists. Limited screen time with parental control and involvement of children awareness programs and digital literacy through schools and agencies like CBSE and NCERT, etc., can create a secure cyber. Proactive guardianship, harmonising technology, psychology and law can create resilience in the cyber-behaviour of children.