Social media is shaping public perceptions of youth crime in New South Wales, with widely shared incidents creating a sense of reoffending, even as official data suggest overall rates have remained relatively stable.
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the number of young people in custody has grown by around a third in the past two years, reaching 234 by June 2025, up from 175 in June 2023.
However, the increase in detention does not necessarily reflect a rise in overall youth offending.
BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said increases in certain crimes doesn’t mean youth offending is rising across the board.
“The rise in young people in custody is being driven primarily by an increase in the number of young people held on remand,” she said.
“Currently, nearly three in four young people in custody have not been convicted and are awaiting their day in court.”
“Over the past two years, this number has grown, while sentenced custody remains a smaller share.”
Assault-related offences remain among the most common for young people in custody.
At the same time, broader indicators suggest youth offending has remained relatively stable.
Over the two years to 2025, the number of young people proceeding to court remained steady overall and declined by more than 12 per cent in regional New South Wales.
Despite this, some offence categories across the state have increased in recent years, including retail theft and recorded sexual assault, reflecting changes in reporting and policing activity.
Police say social media is also playing a major role in shaping public perception.
NSW Police Constable, Ryan Corliss said the way incidents are shared can make youth crime seem more widespread than it is.
“I don’t believe that youth crime is becoming more common. However, the increased media coverage, the influence of social media and a focus on high-profile cases can make youth crime seem far more prevalent than it actually is,” he said.
“These factors amplify visibility and form a public perception that it’s rising significantly despite data suggesting it has remained relatively stable.”
Incidents involving young people are now often filmed and shared online within minutes, reaching large audiences.
Constable Corliss said the increase in visibility can also influence behaviour.
“Young people posting videos of them committing crime or influencing others to commit crimes does make situations worse and encourage youth crime,” he said.
“The overload of offences being shared via social media normalises this behaviour.”
Reoffending data also points to ongoing cycles within the system, with around 62 per cent of young people released from custody reoffending within 12 months.
Together, the figures show a shifting picture, where increases in detention are being driven more by remand and justice system factors, while overall youth offending remains relatively stable but highly visible over social media.
