A new survey by Prorata reveals widespread concern among Greek citizens about the rise in youth violence and delinquency—perceptions that experts previously told To Vima International Edition are unsupported by data and instead driven by media coverage.
Prorata Survey Results on Youth Violence
Presented during the event “Youth Violence & Delinquency: From Suppression to Prevention,” organized by the Institute for Social Democracy – InSocial in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Athens, the survey results were shared with To Vima and highlight the public’s deep unease about this growing issue.
An overwhelming 98% of respondents believe youth violence and delinquency are prevalent today. Gang involvement and digital delinquency, including online harassment and cybercrime, stand out as the most concerning behaviors. Following these are issues like sexual harassment and exploitation, and the possession or use of dangerous items.
When comparing current trends to the past, nearly half (49.5%) of those surveyed believe incidents of youth violence have increased, while 37.5% attribute the heightened visibility to extensive media coverage. Only 14% feel that youth violence is no more frequent than before.
A previous report by To Vima International, comprised of a wide-range of interviews by experts on the matter, showed that data does not support the assertion that violence rates have increased.
The survey also delves into the root causes of this phenomenon. Citizens identify family dysfunction (77.5%) and societal pressures (56.5%) as primary factors driving young people toward violent or delinquent behavior. Schools and peer groups are seen as contributing less significantly.
Political Orientiation Impacts Proposed ‘Solutions’
On tackling the issue, public opinion is clearly impacted by political orientation, but overall there is greater support for prevention over punishment. About 63% of respondents favor preventive measures such as education and intervention programs, while 35.5% advocate for stricter laws and harsher penalties.
However, citizens feel that the media tends to promote punitive measures, contrasting with their own preference for preventive strategies.
Looking at the breakdown between self-declared left-wing and right-wing respondents, while 89% of left-wing respondents favor prevention, 60% of right-wing respondents prefer stricter penalties.
Digital and Physical Violence
The survey also highlights that citizens feel both digital and physical violence are equally prevalent. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents believe minors are equally exposed to both forms, and these responses showed little variation across gender and political affiliation.
