consumer psychology

While a lot of teenagers have shoplifted at some point or another, these online communities are again controversial because they actually promote shoplifting. This brings up an interesting conversation of who is really being harmed here? Corporations? The teenagers themselves as they expose themselves to potentially becoming more criminal, going after bigger steals, and risking getting caught? I don't know if this is a millennial problem (every article blames something on being millennial), but I would feel concern that the teenagers could potentially ruin promising lives over stealing, especially those over 18. Maybe having sympathy with people who willingly engage in criminal activity is wrong, but it's important to note that as the middle class of America is shrinking, those living in poverty increase and that may have a profound effect on teens learning how to shoplift. Additionally, social media facilitates these desires. If you go to a relatively low-income school, you may not see many kids with expensive goods, but with social media you see many people putting out an "idealized" life with expensive clothes and accessories. This may encourage people to steal in order to fit in, and find communities that accept shoplifting as a hobby.