Online deviant behavior refers to a range of activities, some considered illegal, some
considered amoral, many considered both. The Internet has transformed the accessibility of
information and enabled individuals with common beliefs to find each other and reinforce
behaviors considered unacceptable. Pathological individuals, once limited by time, space, and
societal constraints, use virtual communities to communicate and organize. Less clear is the
extent to which the Internet has increased or modified the prevalence of certain deviant
behaviors. This literature review summarizes current research on three commonly researched
types of Internet deviance (i.e., sexual deviance, self-harm groups, and hate groups) with the
goal of highlighting common findings that will enhance our understanding of the role(s) that the
Internet plays in supporting or encouraging deviant behaviors. Theories and methods used to
study these behaviors are briefly reviewed and policy implications are considered.