Online Harassment, Digital Abuse, and Cyberstalking in America
Amanda Lenhart, Michele L. Ybarra, Kathryn Zickuhr, Myeshia N. Price · 2016
of FindingsThe internet and digital tools play an increasingly central role in how Americans engage with their communities:How they find and share information; how they connect with their friends, family, and professional networks; how they entertain themselves; how they seek answers to sensitive questions; how they learn about-and accessthe world around them.The internet is built on the ideal of the free flow of information, but it is also built on the ideal of free-flowing discourse.However, one persistent challenge to this ideal has been online harassment and abuse-unwanted contact that is used to create an intimidating, annoying, frightening, or even hostile environment for the victim and that uses digital means to reach the target.As with their traditional expressions, online harassment and abuse can affect many aspects of our digital lives.Even those who do not experience online harassment directly can see it and respond to its effects; even the threat of harassment can suppress the voices of many of our citizens.In order to explore these issues and the ways that online environments affect our experiences online, this report examines American teens' and adults' experiences with witnessing, experiencing, and responding to the aftermath of online harassment and abuse.Its findings are based on the results of a nationally representative survey of 3,002 Americans 15 and older conducted from May 17th through July 31st, 2016.Respondents were contacted by landline and cell phone, and interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.www.datasociety.net| http://innovativepublichealth.orgOnline Harassment, Digital Abuse, and Cyberstalking in America 5 72% of internet users have witnessed at least one harassing behavior onlineAlmost three-quarters (72%) of internet users have witnessed online harassment.The most pronounced differences are by age and sexual identity: Internet users under age 30 and those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are more likely to witness all the core harassment behaviors we asked about.Black internet users are also more likely than White internet users to have witnessed online harassment.In addition, the type of harassment Americans see can vary by subgroup.For example, although men and women are equally likely to see online harassment overall, women are more likely than men to have seen certain behaviors, such as cyberstalking. A majority of witnesses have responded to harassment they sawMany witnesses take steps to support, report, and stand up for the targets of the harassment they see.Overall, 65% of those who witnessed online harassment reported taking at least one of these three actions:• 45% of witnesses said something to the person targeted by the aggressor.• 40% said something to the aggressor.• 38% said they reported the behavior through the reporting tools available on the online platform where it took place. More than four in ten victims of online harassment have changed contact information to escape their abuseWe asked internet users who have experienced online harassment and abuse what, if any, measures they have taken to protect themselves from further harassment.Taken together, 65% of victims of online harassment have used at least one of these types of protective strategies:• 43% changed their contact information by changing their email address or phone number, or by creating a new social media profile under a different name.• 33% asked for help from a friend or family member, law enforcement, or domestic violence resources.• 27% reported or flagged content that was posted about them without their permission.• 26% disconnected from online networks and devices by abandoning social media, the internet, or their cell phone.Source: Data & Society / CiPHR Measuring Cyberabuse Survey, May 17-July 31, 2016.Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish (total n=3,002 U.S. internet users age 15 and older).33 23 41 24 Ages 15-29 Ages 30+ Men WomenFour in ten young women say they have self-censored to avoid harassment online Among all internet users, the % in each group who say they have decided not to post something online because they were worried they would be harassed About Data & SocietyData & Society is a research institute in New York City that is focused on social, cultural, and ethical issues arising from data-centric technological development.To provide frameworks that can help address emergent tensions, D&S is committed to identifying issues at the intersection of technology and society, providing research that can ground public debates, and building a network of researchers and practitioners that can offer insight and direction.To advance public understanding of the issues, D&S brings together diverse constituencies, hosts events, does directed research, creates policy frameworks, and builds demonstration projects that grapple with the challenges and opportunities of a data-saturated world. About Center for Innovative Public Health Research (CiPHR)The Center for Innovative Public Health Research, also known as CiPHR, examines the impact that technology has on health and how it can be used to affect health.We have developed programs to reduce HIV transmission, increase smoking cessation, and provide supportive resources for youth experiencing cyberbullying and people with depression.CiPHR is a non-profit, public health research incubator founded under the previous name, Internet Solutions for Kids, Inc.(ISK).Our vision is to promote positive human development through the creation and implementation of innovative and unique technology-based research and health education programs.Public health is ever evolving and so are we. About the Digital Trust FoundationThe Digital Trust Foundation funds projects that promote online privacy, safety, and security.Established through a class action lawsuit settlement, the foundation has committed approximately