29% of European Teenagers are Victims of Online Bullying
research highlights risks for teenagers in socially networked world Microsoft introduces new staff volunteering initiative focused on online safety.
Key findings:
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London 10 February, 2009
Almost a third (29%) of European teenagers have been bullied on the internet according to new research by Microsoft. The research, which examines the rise in social media and the habits and attitudes of European teenagers, was released today in support of Safer Internet Day and the launch of a new Microsoft volunteering programme designed to educate children, parents and teachers on safe internet use.
John Mangelaars, vice president, consumer and online, Microsoft EMEA, said, “Today’s ‘web generation’ are increasingly living out their lives in the digital arena. The advent of social media has helped our children become sophisticated web users, but they still need help and guidance on how to tackle emerging issues such as online bullying. The findings reveal worrying gaps in their internet education.”
The vast majority of teenagers (69%) claim to be aware of ‘stranger danger’ on the internet and how to protect themselves, but the growing number of online bullying victims suggests there is still a lot of work to be done. Teens in the Nordics in particular are suffering at the hands of internet bullies. Exactly half of those surveyed in Norway have experienced bullying by a group or individual as have 45% of those in Denmark - almost a fifth (18%) being bullied frequently. In stark contrast, 90% of Italian teenagers and 87% of Spanish and Portuguese young people claim they have never had any problems of this nature online.
Mangelaars observed, “These results are interesting given the recent report by the European Commission [1] looking at parents and their attitudes to the internet. It found that parents in the Nordic region were the least worried about their children being bullied online whereas those from the Mediterranean were the most. This suggests a gap between parental concern and the experiences of their children, and emphasises the importance of online safety education for all.”
Education is key
“As a leading provider of social media services such as Windows Live and Xbox, Microsoft believes it is important to educate children and young people on how to have a fun, responsible and safe web experience. We are delighted to announce a new initiative that will see trained Microsoft employees go into schools across Europe to help children get to grips with the internet and promote a safer world of social media. This initiative involves 22 European countries and 700 employees who will train over 40,000 children, parents and teachers,” said Mangelaars.
Access all areas
Teenagers report few restrictions on internet use, with 51% of teens surfing the web free from parental supervision. Parents in Norway (28%) and Spain (21%) like to keep a closer eye on internet use, while parents in Portugal (67%) and the UK (66%) are the least restrictive.
Almost a quarter (22%) of European teenagers are still failing to use any privacy settings to restrict their personal information from general view while 27% only use them sometimes. Spanish teenagers (45%) are the most likely to openly share private information while the majority of Portuguese (62%) and Danish (59%) teenagers are more vigilant in locking down their details to strangers. In Switzerland and Finland, 46% also regularly post photos of themselves online.
Online Invasion of Privacy
However, when it comes to posting photos of their friends, Finland’s teenagers are the most respectful in Europe, with 69% of young adults in the region claiming they’d ask permission first. Yet, a third of Irish and Spanish teenagers claim they would go ahead without checking. Overall, 38% freely claim that young people don’t respect each other’s privacy online.
Trusted advisors When feeling threatened online, 38% of teenagers said parents would be their first port of call for advice; friends (30%) coming a close second. It is very much a family affair for the Spanish with more than half (51%) turning to their parents while two fifths (41%) of teenagers in Ireland claim they’d approach friends first. All of this is a marked improvement from the results of a 2007 study that claimed 69% of teens regularly receive personal messages online from strangers and that most don't tell a trusted adult [2].
| TIPS FOR PARENTS: HOW TO TACKLE CYBERBULLYING |
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For more information, please contact:
Ngaire Moyes
M: +44 (0) 796 723 5561
E-mail: ngairem@microsoft.com
About the research
The ‘European Online Safety Survey’ research was conducted by independent market research agency Cross Tab during the month of January 2009. The survey was posted on MSN websites across Europe and polled a total of 21,765 people in the UK; Denmark; Austria; Finland; Italy; Norway; Spain; Switzerland; Ireland and Portugal
About MSN and Windows Live
MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localised versions available globally in 42 markets including 18 in EMEA. MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live™, a comprehensive set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to be the hub of your digital life, bringing together in one place all the relationships, information interests and people you care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across your PC, phone and the Web.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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