SINGAPORE - Social media makes crime seem aspirational rather than reckless, said experts who weighed in on young criminals who “post and boast” their exploits.
Mr Gopal Mahey, senior counsellor at the Centre for Psychotherapy, said social media can provide a platform with instant audiences and a curated reality, which could provide a false sense of belonging for users.
“Algorithms reward spectacle. The more outrageous the flex, the more engagement it gets.
“The hustle culture narrative promotes the idea that success is about fast money, regardless of the method used to achieve it,” said Mr Gopal.
The fact that viral content thrives on controversy also reinforces dangerous behaviours as users become incentivised by engaging in higher risk-taking, he added.
Dr Annabelle Chow, principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology, said social media platforms are the perfect breeding ground for those seeking admiration or validation from others.
She said that a thriving “flex” culture is in part due to the social media scene, where influencers “flex” or flaunt their lives to become the source of envy among their community.
“I think social media fuels these behaviours. That need for comparison, to be validated, or simply to show off. The behaviour is not new, but social media amplifies these effects with very little effort,” she said.
The experts were commenting on the exploits of a number of young people who bragged about their flashy lifestyle earned through alleged criminal activities.
They include Malone Lam Yu Xuan, a 20-year-old from Singapore accused of being a co-conspirator in one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in US history.
Lam allegedly stole Bitcoin valued at more than US$240 million (S$320 million) and spent large chunks on mansions, cars, luxury clothes and jewellery.
Others who made the headlines include local influencer Chin Tung Sheng, who on March 7 pleaded guilty to seven charges including forgery, cheating and theft.
Between 2020 and 2023, he forged receipts to deceive Ion Orchard into issuing him more than $76,900 worth of shopping vouchers.
He also broke into a Sentosa bungalow to steal two Louis Vuitton trunks valued at more than $70,800 each, among other items.
The bungalow’s owner estimated he lost around $200,000.
Around that time, Chin, 26, flaunted his life on Instagram – posting numerous photos of himself in designer clothing and attending social events. The last post on his account was made in November 2021.
There were also others like Pansuk Siriwipa. The 30-year-old Thai national masterminded a scheme in Singapore to cheat almost 200 victims in a $32 million luxury goods scam.
Like the others, she spent the money on cars, flights on private planes and a lifestyle she flashed to her followers on social media.
She was sentenced to 14 years’ jail in 2024.
And then there is fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, who is accused by US and Malaysian prosecutors of orchestrating a vast money laundering scheme that embezzled billions of dollars from Malaysian state investment fund, 1MDB.
Low hung out with celebrities, often sharing the photos online.
Dr Sheena Jebal, chief executive and clinical supervisor at NuLife Care and Counselling Services, said Lam’s flashy spending spree could have been motivated by a need to validate his self-worth, control and belonging.
“Lam’s behaviour is a complex interplay of factors, driven by a lack of moral ambiguity and a desire for validation, power and superiority.
“His actions are calculated and impulsive, fuelled by his IT skills, understanding of cryptocurrency and a sense of anonymity and protection,” she said.
“Furthermore, his enjoyment of outplaying the system and taking risks, as well as his normalisation of dishonesty and loopholes, reinforce his behaviour, highlighting the depth of his psychological and emotional needs,” Dr Jebal added.
Clout economy
Mr Gopal said that for many young offenders, flaunting wealth is not just about money. It is about status, validation and rewriting their personal narrative.
“Success, even through illegal means, becomes a way to prove their worth and command respect,” he added.
This comes with the rise of a “digital clout economy” where crime is not just a means to an end, but a brand, he added.
“More offenders are documenting their offences, treating it as entertainment rather than an act of harm,” he said.
Dr Geraldine Tan, principal registered psychologist at The Therapy Room, said that for some, a sense of accomplishment from pulling off such offences could allow them to feel invincible.
“Some may feel like they want to brag, or show off to their peers, or even to taunt the authorities.
“Most of these criminals have a short-term mindset, in that they are more enticed by immediate rewards such as social status or the thrill, despite the potential for long-term cost,” she added.
But she said that social media sometimes takes a disproportionate amount of blame when it comes to youth offences.
“We have to be clear and separate the criminal act from their activities on social media.
“Many of these offenders are motivated by the feeling of power that pulling off a crime can give them. Social media is just one outlet they use to showcase the results,” she said.
Too clever
Mr Riko Isaac, a criminal lawyer in Singapore, said many young offenders operate under a false sense of invincibility.
They believe they are too clever to be caught.
“Others seem to be driven by a combination of impulsivity, lack of foresight, or a miscalculation of the risk or failure to appreciate the potential consequences of their actions,” said Mr Isaac.
He has noticed a worrying trend of more young people getting involved in crime in exchange for fast or easy money.
“Most of these youth seem to feel a need to satisfy a deeper insecurity of not being successful enough unless they are perceived to have a luxurious lifestyle,” he said.
Like Dr Tan, Mr Isaac said it is necessary to acknowledge that social media is just one piece of the puzzle.
“Underlying factors like upbringing, peer pressure, societal influences, individual insecurities or a lack of self-esteem also contribute to the complex psychology behind such behaviour,” he said.
A 2024 report by the Ministry of Social and Family Development found the number of youth offenders charged with cheating, offences under the Computer Misuse Act and offences under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act increased to 750 in 2023, from 405 in 2019.
For Mr Gopal, the “flex” culture that promote success in the form of materialistic pursuits could lead young offenders astray.
“The reality? Crime is easy, but the comeback is brutal and the real flex isn’t surviving prison, it’s avoiding it altogether.
“That’s why I believe early intervention, value-based education and digital literacy have become more crucial than ever.
“It isn’t just about deterrence now. It’s about reshaping narratives before they take root,” he said.
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