Madhya Pradesh: Youngsters At Risk As Social Media Misuse Drives Cybercrime Surge: Govt

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Social media misuse continues to be the leading cause of cybercrime in Madhya Pradesh, with young people emerging as the most affected group, the state government said in a written reply to a question raised by MLA Riti Pathak in the Assembly.

The government stated that out of the 511 cybercrime cases reported so far this year, 242 cases (47%) were linked to the misuse of social media. The government stated that banking fraud is the next most common cybercrime in the state.

In 2024, as many as 1,082 cases of cybercrimes (highest in three years) were registered by police in the state, out of which 37% or 396 cases were related to social media abuse.

In 2023, when the total number of cybercrimes declined to 927 (a dip of 9%), the cases related to social media abuse comprised 46% or 428 cases out of the total cases.

Out of the 1021 cybercrime cases reported across the state in 2022, as many as 542 cases - which accounted to more than 53% - of the total cases pertained to misuse of social media.

Year    Total Cases       Social Media Misuse

2025    511 (so far)      242 (47%)      

2024    1,082    396 (37%)

2023    927      428 (46%)

2022    1021     542 (53%)