Cyberbullying and other digital dangers

Insights into young people’s negative experiences online from eSafety’s 2016 Digital Participation Survey.

Cyberbullying was the most commonly cited negative experience for teenagers, and for kids it was exposure to inappropriate content. For both kids and teenagers, social exclusion was the most frequently mentioned bullying behaviour. One in three teenagers had witnessed a cyberbullying incident.

Watch the video for more insights into the prevalence of specific cyberbullying behaviours, the adverse effects of negative online experiences, actions taken after the incident, and types of cyberbullying incidents witnessed as bystanders.

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In the 12 months to June 2016 young people were: cyberbullied: 8% of kids, 19% of teens exposed to inappropriate content: 9% of kids, 17% of teens contacted by strangers: 5% of kids, 9% of teens. Kids and teens who were cyberbullied, were: socially excluded: 50% of kids , 43% of teens called names: 39% of kids, 39% of teens received repeated unwanted online messages: 38% of teens had lies or rumours spread about them: 28% of kids, 36% of teens received threats to their safety: 17% of kids, 19% of teens had someone impersonate them: 12% of kids, 9% of teens had their accounts accessed by someone without their consent: 9% of kids, 15% of teens had personal information posted without their consent: 6% of kids, 10% of teens had inappropriate private photos of them posted without their consent: 9% of teens 42% of kids and teens were adversely affected after experiencing a negative incident online. 58% felt angry, sad, scared or disempowered 49% struggled with their self-esteem 28% lost friendships or felt socially isolated. 41% of kids and teens took action after experiencing an incident online. 66% told their parents 39% told their friends 23% blocked the person. 29% of teens and 12% of kids witnessed cyberbullying. Bystanders saw: someone being teased or called names: 54% of kids, 60% of teens lies or rumours about others: 40% of kids, 60% of teens someone being socially excluded: 37% of kids, 46% of teens threats being made to others: 25% of kids, 37% of teens someone impersonating someone: 22% of kids someone being sent repeated unwanted communications: 24% of teens. Source: Survey commissioned by eSafety, June 2016. Respondents included 2,278 children aged 8 to 17 years in Australia with access to the internet.

Audio

In the 12 months to June 2016 young people were:

cyberbullied: 8% of kids, 19% of teens
exposed to inappropriate content: 9% of kids, 17% of teens
contacted by strangers: 5% of kids, 9% of teens.

Kids and teens who were cyberbullied, were:

socially excluded: 50% of kids , 43% of teens
called names: 39% of kids, 39% of teens
received repeated unwanted online messages: 38% of teens
had lies or rumours spread about them: 28% of kids, 36% of teens
received threats to their safety: 17% of kids, 19% of teens
had someone impersonate them: 12% of kids, 9% of teens
had their accounts accessed by someone without their consent: 9% of kids, 15% of teens
had personal information posted without their consent: 6% of kids, 10% of teens
had inappropriate private photos of them posted without their consent: 9% of teens

42% of kids and teens were adversely affected after experiencing a negative incident online.

58% felt angry, sad, scared or disempowered
49% struggled with their self-esteem
28% lost friendships or felt socially isolated.

41% of kids and teens took action after experiencing an incident online.

66% told their parents
39% told their friends
23% blocked the person.

29% of teens and 12% of kids witnessed cyberbullying. Bystanders saw:

someone being teased or called names: 54% of kids, 60% of teens
lies or rumours about others: 40% of kids, 60% of teens
someone being socially excluded: 37% of kids, 46% of teens
threats being made to others: 25% of kids, 37% of teens
someone impersonating someone: 22% of kids
someone being sent repeated unwanted communications: 24% of teens.

Source: Survey commissioned by eSafety, June 2016. Respondents included 2,278 children aged 8 to 17 years in Australia with access to the internet.

Cyberbullying and other digital dangers

Cyberbullying and other digital dangers

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