More than two thirds of Australians have had a negative experience online - and at-risk groups, including Indigenous Australians, those identifying as LGBTQI+, and those living with a disability are often the biggest targets.
The new research, which is based on a national survey of over 3,700 Australians, highlights the complex dynamics experienced by at-risks groups who are the target of negative online behaviours and shows that people in these at-risk groups were also more likely to use negative behaviour online towards others.
This new data has informed the development of a new Protecting Voices at Risk Online statement, which sets out how eSafety will help the most at-risk Australians build digital resilience and provide practical strategies they can use to de-escalate negative online situations.
“It makes sense that those more at risk in the real world are also at greater risk online. This report shows negative experiences online are pervasive, impacting a significant number of Australians,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.
“It also reveals Indigenous Australians, those identifying as LGBTQI+, and people living with a disability, are much more likely to be on the receiving end of hate speech, offensive names, having lies or rumours spread about them, or even having something said to provoke them into responding.”
The research also found the negative online experiences encountered by at-risk groups, particularly those identifying as LGBQTI+ and Indigenous Australians, resulted in heightened rates of mental and emotional distress, compared to the rest of the Australian population.
“It’s clear from this research that for these groups their particular negative experiences, which may include homophobic slurs, racial abuse and hate speech, are much harder to shrug off and have serious and long-lasting impacts on their mental and emotional wellbeing,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“This data also shows these at-risk groups are more likely than the rest of the population to engage with the negative commentary and respond in-kind — which is unsurprising, given the significantly higher levels of online abuse targeted at them.
“This research, combined with our new statement, provides a clearer picture, backed with data and investigative insights, of who is more at-risk online and why. It also helps guide and support eSafety’s current programs for these groups, while finding new ways to address their unique experiences and issues.”
The new data, which looks at negative online experiences for adults aged 18-65 for the 12 months to August 2019, showed the most common negative online experiences for Australians include receiving repeated unwanted messages (42%), attempted scams over the phone asking victims to enter details into their computers (32%) and having their computers infected with a virus (17%).
The full report Adults’ Negative Experiences Online can be found here. The Protecting Voices At Risk Online statement can be found here .