Youth crime in Qld: Criminals take to social media to brag about crimes

Are social media platforms complicit in promoting dangerous behaviours by allowing youth offenders to brag about their crimes?

Youth in crime

What should have been a peaceful Sunday afternoon turned into a nightmare for my family when I became the victim of a violent carjacking – right in the perceived safety of our own driveway.

The attack, which occurred in broad daylight, left us deeply traumatised.

Yet, the fear and helplessness that followed in the days after the incident only worsened, as we found ourselves facing a system that seemed ill-equipped to protect us.

A mere 24 hours after the arrest, one of the offenders – who shockingly had 96 prior charges – was granted bail.

This was terrifying enough, but it became even more distressing when this individual brazenly took to social media to boast about his release.

He mocked the authorities; his shameless posts ridiculed not just the police but the entire justice system, and it felt as though he was revelling in our pain, exacerbating the trauma we were already struggling to process.

This experience left us grappling with endless questions and an overwhelming sense of dread.

Is this individual the sole issue, or is the system at fault for enabling violent offenders to walk free, despite a history of criminal behaviours?

Are social media platforms complicit in promoting such behaviours by allowing offenders to brag about their crimes?

As a society, are we creating an environment where young offenders feel invincible, knowing they can evade real consequences?

His post felt like a declaration of impunity, leaving us to wonder: Are others inspired to follow this path?

Are more young people encouraged by these actions, believing they too can act without fear of punishment?

Is the system prioritising the protection of offenders over victims and law-abiding citizens? And where is the accountability for social media giants who allow such behaviour to persist?

As a parent, these questions haunt me. Are our own children being exposed to and influenced by the glorification of violence on social media? Is the platform we use daily truly safe for our kids?

When is the right time to introduce children to social media, and what safeguards are in place to protect them from harmful influences?

Youth crime remains a concern across Queensland.

Our sense of security has been completely shattered.

The offender’s brazen public mockery of the justice system has only deepened our vulnerability.

What does this mean for our safety? Could he come back? Are we at risk of being targeted again?

Our home, once a symbol of our dreams and hard work, has now become a place of constant anxiety.

Where are the government officials, the legal protections, that are supposed to safeguard us?

How can social media platforms continue to allow such behaviour unchecked?

And what motivation remains for law enforcement when offenders are so quickly released and emboldened to ridicule the very system meant to stop them?

Our anxiety escalated even further when, just a few months later, someone attempted to break into our car again, right in our driveway.

This left us questioning whether we should abandon our home and move to another neighbourhood – or even another city.

The emotional toll has been profound.

Our trust in the justice system has been severely shaken.

How can we feel safe when someone who violently disrupted our lives is free to walk the streets, gloating about it?

No one should feel unsafe in their own home.

No one should live in fear where they are meant to feel most secure.

I share our story in the hope that it serves as a wake-up call to those in power – the justice system and social media platforms must do more to protect victims and hold offenders accountable for the trauma they inflict.

Originally published as Youth crime in Qld: Criminals take to social media to brag about crimes