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Ansiktslös rekrytering av nästa giggare: En rättssociologisk studie om digital rekrytering av unga och barn till kriminalitet

Engdahl, Elias LU and Mendonca Klasson, Johan LU (2026) RÄSK02 20261
Sociology of Law Department
Abstract
This academic paper explores the phenomena of digital recruitment of minors for criminal purposes. The aim is to clarify which factors facilitate the recruitment of minors, and why criminal actors choose to use digital platforms for recruitment, instead of person to person recruitment. Social bond theory by Travis Hirschi, as well as Routine activity theory has been used to analyze the individual factors that enable
minors to be “well suited” for recruitment to criminal activity, as well as the advantages that recruitment through digital platforms has over physical recruitment. The study has used a mix of interviews with experts in the field, and an analysis of multiple official documents from different authorities. The results from the... (More)
This academic paper explores the phenomena of digital recruitment of minors for criminal purposes. The aim is to clarify which factors facilitate the recruitment of minors, and why criminal actors choose to use digital platforms for recruitment, instead of person to person recruitment. Social bond theory by Travis Hirschi, as well as Routine activity theory has been used to analyze the individual factors that enable
minors to be “well suited” for recruitment to criminal activity, as well as the advantages that recruitment through digital platforms has over physical recruitment. The study has used a mix of interviews with experts in the field, and an analysis of multiple official documents from different authorities. The results from the empirical material shows that minors that have low attachments to different societal constellations such as family, school and recreational activities suffer a higher risk of getting involved in criminal behaviour. The internet also enables a more anonymous recruitment form which lowers the risk for criminals to receive any legal consequences, since crime prevention actors have a hard time preventing criminal activity online due to the anonymity of the internet and a lack of adequate legal mandate from authorities to use against the criminals. Since minors have such a widespread use of the internet, it opens up for a much larger arena of recruitment for criminals, compared to recruiting in the physical world. Minors also suffer from a lower degree of consequence thinking, which makes it easier for criminals to recruit them. (Less)
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author
Engdahl, Elias LU and Mendonca Klasson, Johan LU
supervisor
organization
course
RÄSK02 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Anonymity, Children, Criminal, Digital Platforms, Recruitment.
language
Swedish
id
9245603
date added to LUP
2026-08-05 12:10:24
date last changed
2026-08-05 12:10:24
@misc{9245603,
  abstract     = {{This academic paper explores the phenomena of digital recruitment of minors for criminal purposes. The aim is to clarify which factors facilitate the recruitment of minors, and why criminal actors choose to use digital platforms for recruitment, instead of person to person recruitment. Social bond theory by Travis Hirschi, as well as Routine activity theory has been used to analyze the individual factors that enable
minors to be “well suited” for recruitment to criminal activity, as well as the advantages that recruitment through digital platforms has over physical recruitment. The study has used a mix of interviews with experts in the field, and an analysis of multiple official documents from different authorities. The results from the empirical material shows that minors that have low attachments to different societal constellations such as family, school and recreational activities suffer a higher risk of getting involved in criminal behaviour. The internet also enables a more anonymous recruitment form which lowers the risk for criminals to receive any legal consequences, since crime prevention actors have a hard time preventing criminal activity online due to the anonymity of the internet and a lack of adequate legal mandate from authorities to use against the criminals. Since minors have such a widespread use of the internet, it opens up for a much larger arena of recruitment for criminals, compared to recruiting in the physical world. Minors also suffer from a lower degree of consequence thinking, which makes it easier for criminals to recruit them.}},
  author       = {{Engdahl, Elias and Mendonca Klasson, Johan}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Ansiktslös rekrytering av nästa giggare: En rättssociologisk studie om digital rekrytering av unga och barn till kriminalitet}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}