Abstract:
This study provides a valuable understanding of how online social network has been used
to perpetrate cyber-crimes and the counter mechanism to prevent such attack at the same
time. The study was based on social learning theory. The research method adopted for
this paper was qualitative research. In-depth interviews were used to collect primary data.
A list of questions was prepared through Google Form as guidance for each interview
session. Thirty (30) participants were chosen and divided into three batches (A, B, and
C), using the convenient sampling approach. According to the findings of the study,
criminals increasingly use online techniques such as stock spam e-mail and online
extortion, cyber bullying, hacking of social media accounts, cyber theft, cyber
harassment, cyber stalking, and cyber defamation. The study showed that cyber-crime
cannot be eradicated and social media users ought to be careful and security conscious. It
is a call for serious awareness by the government, the media, the Internet service
providers, and users at large. Hence, the call to ensure security and privacy across all
social media platforms is essential. Based on the findings of this study, it recommends
that cyber education alongside other relevant domains should be taught from the
elementary to the tertiary levels to avoid assaults and filter malware or suspected harmful
code.
