Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part C (2025)

Social media has become a significant channel for news consumption, drastically influencing how the public perceives crime. By examining the kind and volume of crime-related, content shared on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X), this study investigates how social media shapes people's perceptions of crime. It also looks into how users' perceptions of safety and fear are impacts by such content, taking into account the dissemination of both truthful and false information. Additionally, this research evaluates whether social media’s overall impact on crime perception is positive or negative, assessing whether it informs the public or fosters unnecessary fear and misinformation. By examining user interactions with crime-related content, the study aims to provide insights into how digital media affects societal attitudes toward crime and law enforcement. The findings will help to further our understanding of the relationship between social media narratives and public views, as well as provide potential recommendations for responsible crime reporting and content regulation on online platforms. This study concludes that while social media helps people become more aware of crime, it also increases fear and makes people doubt what is true. The results show that it is important for people to improve their ability to understand online content, share information responsibly, and for social media platforms to check facts more carefully. This will help make sure that crime is shown in a fair and truthful way.