Questioning Vandalism Among Teenagers

Vandalism is increasingly common among teenagers. It is a misguided way of showing teenagers' existence and identity. What is more, the perpetrators are students. In addition, vandalism is a criminal act, so everyone should avoid it. Day by day, this negative behaviour is carried out more and more by teenagers and adults. Even among the perpetrators are students who are still actively studying at Senior High School (SMA) or Vocational High School (SMK) level.

Such acts of vandalism cannot be separated from the role of parents and schools in shaping children's personality and character. In addition, the environment is also very influential because it is where they carry out their daily activities. In general, vandalism is defined as the act of destroying and desecrating everything that is beautiful and praiseworthy.

Other acts categorised as vandalism are criminal destruction, painting, graffiti, and other disturbing things. Vandalism recognises no particular place. It can occur on house walls, bridges, shops, tourist attractions, rocks in the mountains, statues, monuments, historic buildings, places of worship, and so on. Acts of vandalism are usually carried out by two or more people, using spray paint. They usually write initials, pseudonyms, or gang names. Vandalism is often associated with teenage activities. If the issue of vandalism among teenagers is not dealt with promptly, it can harm themselves and others.

There are several causes of this vandalism among teenagers. First, the teenagers' own attitude. Teenagers commit vandalism because they have an apathetic attitude toward everyday life. Teenagers also do not think about the problems that many people will face, or the losses caused by their actions.

Second, negative attitudes in the family. Negative family attitudes also contribute to teenagers committing vandalism. Parents are in the habit of not reprimanding their children's negative behaviour. If parents do not take the action they should to stop their child's negative behaviour, this will have an effect when the child is outside the home. Therefore, parents should give their children religious and moral education from an early age so that they do not behave negatively.

Third, the influence of friends. Some vandalism problems are caused by the influence of friends. Most teenagers choose good friends so that they are encouraged to do good things as well. If teenagers choose their friends wrongly, they will surely fall into negative activities such as vandalism.

Vandalism is a wrong way of showing teenagers' existence. They do not know, or perhaps do not want to know, the bad effects of vandalism. The effects are very harmful both to themselves and to others. The bad effects caused by vandalism include, first, environmental damage. From the definition above we know that vandalism is the act of destroying everything that is beautiful or praiseworthy. Therefore, with these acts, an environment that should be beautiful and well maintained will be damaged or seem neglected.

Second, disturbing public order. Not only is the environment damaged, but order is also disturbed by these acts of vandalism, because basically teenagers who commit vandalism violate existing rules. Third, disturbing comfort. Vandalism committed by teenagers certainly disturbs the comfort of others. For example, the destruction of public facilities caused by teenage vandalism will disturb the comfort of other people who want to use those facilities.

Basically, teenagers commit acts of vandalism to show their existence and to show their personal or group identity. So the solution that must be provided is that teenagers need to be paid attention to, recognised, and have all their needs met, so that the abilities they have are channelled into positive things. Much property has already been lost because of acts of vandalism.

The public is also increasingly angry at the rampant acts of these teenagers, which are very disturbing. For this reason, they need to be dealt with seriously by various parties, especially law enforcers. Law enforcement officers should go directly into the field to help overcome this negative teenage behaviour. Actions that produce a deterrent effect for the perpetrators are needed. However, all of this still requires a clear and firm legal basis so that handling acts of vandalism does not have worse effects.

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