Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

The Impact of Social Media Platforms Towards Junior High School Students in GCC
in Relation to the Differential Association Theory

This research is based on the Differential Association Theory that was developed by
Edwin Sutherland. The theory is proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn
the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior. There are two fundamental
aspects of differential association, namely the behavioral-interactional and normative
dimensions. The behavioral-interactional dimension refers to the direct and indirect interactions
and associations with individuals that engage in delinquent activities. The normative dimension
refers to the values which one is exposed to as a result of one's associations and interactions
with others (Ward & Brown 2015). The theory proposed that the individuals who are around
peers who tend to have and tend to show a different criminal behavior will tend to be involved in
doing criminal behavior as well. There are many crimes that can be committed on social media
platforms and there are many crimes that can be committed when it is triggered by the social
media platforms. The researchers believe that one of the impacts of social media platforms can
lead to criminal behavior and this is one of the objectives of this study.

Source:
Ward and Brown. 2015. Social Learning Theory and Crime.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/differential-association