Redes sociales; salud mental y conductas autolesivas, una aproximación criminológica a la vulnerabilidad juvenil en entornos digitales

Abstract

Abstract: The increase in self-harm among young people constitutes a complex phenomenon that demands an approach beyond the clinical sphere, incorporating analytical tools from criminology, criminal policy, and criminalistics. Therefore, in digital environments, particularly on social media, young people are exposed to dynamics of social validation, normalization of suffering, and the dissemination of harmful content that act as criminogenic risk factors. With the aforementioned in mind, this document aims to analyze the relationship between social networks, mental health, and self-harm from a preventive criminal policy perspective, considering youth vulnerability as a form of contemporary victimization. Through documentary and theoretical analysis, the limitations of the traditional penal model in the face of these manifestations of self-inflicted violence are examined, as well as the potential of digital criminalistics for the early detection of risky behavioral patterns in cyberspace. It is argued that an effective criminal policy should prioritize preventive, inter-institutional, and evidence-based strategies, incorporating the responsibility of digital platforms and the use of forensic techniques for the purpose of youth protection. The research concludes that preventing self-harm requires a comprehensive approach that integrates justice, public health, and digital regulation.