An Investigation into the Impact of Social Media Use on Cybercrime Awareness among Pakistani Gen Z

Abstract

This study has investigated the level of cybercrime awareness among Pakistani Gen Z in view of their social media usage patterns and subsequent exposure to cybercrimes. Employing a cross-sectional correlational survey data were gathered from 400 respondents aged 18–30. The research revealed that although the use of social media was high among Gen Z of Pakistan, their cybercrime awareness remained significantly low. The cybercrime victims, who suffered online harassment, data theft, deepfake content, and video leakage, reflected higher inclination to seek out information regarding cybercrime laws than those who were not exposed to such delinquencies. The three key constructs including patterns of social media use, cybercrime awareness, and responses to cybercrimes verified high reliability with α> 0.70. The findings underscored the need for tailored cybercrime awareness campaigns, integration of social media literacy with formal education, and policy reformation.