DIGITAL SAFETY
Microsoft study shows bullying remains an issue with 4 in 10 teens involved; adults, too
By Jacqueline Beauchere - Global Digital Safety Advocate Courtesy of https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/09/14/microsoft-online-bullying-study-covid-19/
The new school year is beginning for many across the globe and, although Covid-19 continues to necessitate at least some distance-learning, the realities of bullying – both online and off – remain. A new Microsoft study shows 4 in 10 teens in 32 countries report being “involved” in a bullying incident and, perhaps surprisingly, nearly the same percentage of adults, as well.
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ome 40% of teenagers in 32 countries1 say they’ve been involved in a bullying incident as the target of bullying, someone who displayed bullying behaviors or as a bystander. Meanwhile, 37% of adults said they were involved in a “bullying” incident. Combining both teens and adults, 38% of respondents say they were involved, with 19% identifying as the “target,” 21% as a “bystander” and 1% each as both “contributor” and “bully.” Respondents were asked about both online and offline bullying, and adults were asked about “bullying” (perhaps better termed “harassment”) both inside and outside the workplace. Interestingly, those who admitted to either contributing to or exhibiting bullying behaviors responded overwhelmingly that they felt social pressure to act (68%) and they said that they regret their actions (79%). Among those who felt significant pressure to act, regret was even higher at nearly 9 in 10 (89%). 20
SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA OCTOBER 2020
The findings are from Microsoft’s latest research into aspects of digital civility – encouraging safer, healthier and more respectful online interactions among all people. The study, “Civility, Safety and Interaction Online – 2020”, polled teens ages 13-17 and adults ages 18-74 about their exposure to 212 different online risks. This latest research builds on similar studies undertaken annually from 2016
to 2019. Previous years’ projects polled the same demographic groups in 14, 22, 23 and 25 countries, respectively. A total of 16,051 individuals participated in this latest study, and we have surveyed more than 58,000 people over the last five years. Full results from this latest installment will be made available on International Safer Internet Day 2020, on 9 February.
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