The Myth of the Tech-Savvy Teen and the Clueless Senior Citizen: Revisiting Technology-Based Victimization Over the Life Course. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pratt, Travis C.
• Other Names: Turanovic Jillian J. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Criminal justice review. Volume 43:Number 3(2018:Sep.)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 369
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: technology -- victimization -- life course; Criminal justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; 345.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016818763245
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-0168

Abstract

It is a popular idea that younger people are more technology-savvy than their older counterparts. It is an equally popular idea that our oldest generation—senior citizens—is so clueless about new technological developments that they are the most vulnerable to technology-based forms of victimization. The present article, however, demonstrates that these ideas are myths and that it is the young—not the old—who are most at risk of victimization when technology is involved. This should come as no surprise since the age–victimization curve mirrors rather closely the age–crime curve, where the risk of victimization typically peaks in late adolescence and early adulthood and follows a steady decline thereafter. The risks associated with technologically based forms of victimization—at least in general—are no different. The implications of dispelling these myths for criminological research as we move forward are discussed in the context of the nature of "risky" behaviors at different stages of the life course.