Vandalism facts for kids

A clock at a railway station that has been damaged.

Vandalism is a crime where someone intentionally damages or destroys property that does not belong to them. This can include things like drawing graffiti on walls or messing up websites.

A person who commits vandalism is called a vandal. This name comes from the Vandals, an ancient tribe. They were known for attacking and damaging the city of Rome in 455 CE.

What Are Examples of Vandalism?

Some people see graffiti as a form of art.

Many websites let people add or change content. These include wikis (like Wikipedia), online forums, and blogs. Because of this, some people might "vandalize" them.

Online vandalism can involve adding silly comments, filling a page with spam, or writing nonsense. This is a type of trolling. Websites often have special users called administrators. Their job is to remove vandalism and to stop users who keep vandalizing.

However, not all acts of vandalism are seen as completely bad by everyone. For example, some people create graffiti to show their artistic talent. They might not have enough money to buy space in an art gallery. So, they use public property to share their art with others.

See also

In Spanish: Vandalismo para niños