♦ 1 in 3 young people are scared they could be bullied online
♦ 69% have been abusive to someone else online
♦ Instagram the most commonly used social network for
online bullying
♦ Half a million young people were bullied in the UK in the last week alone
One of largest surveys of bullying in the UK, the Annual Bullying Survey 2017, is published today (July 19) by anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label.
The charity surveyed 10,020 young people between the ages of 12 – 20, in partnership with schools and colleges across the country with the focus of the 2017 survey being technology and the lives that young people live online.
The report explores a broad range of issues including cyberbullying, abuse, online behaviours, online personas and social media addiction.
This is the fifth Annual Bullying Survey produced by the Ditch the Label. The charity hope that the research will inspire further studies and policy shifts to enhance the digital experiences of young people.
The report found that over half of all young people will have experienced bullying while those who identify as LGBT+ or with a physical or learning disability are the most likely to be bullied.
82% of gay people have been bullied and 70% of those with a physical disability.
The report also found that social networks are making young people more anxious with 1 in 3 young people being scared they could be bullied online and of those who have been bullied, 2 in 5 have gone on to develop social anxiety.
Instagram is the most commonly used network for online bullying. Nearly half (42%) of all young people bullied online have been bullied on Instagram followed by Facebook (37%) and Snapchat (31%).
A large number of young people (69%) also admit to having done something abusive to another person online with 7 out of 10 respondents thinking social networks don’t do enough to combat online bullying.
Key findings:
The climate of bullying
♦ Over half of all young people in the UK have been bullied at some point.
♦ Over half a million (673,000) will have been bullied at least once in the past week (according to data extrapolation against UK census data).
♦ 1 in 5 young people have been bullied online.
♦ Young people who identify as LGBT+ are the most likely to have been bullied – 82% of gay people have been bullied (compared to 51% of straight people).
♦ Those with a disability are also much more likely to be bullied. 75% of those with autism or aspergers and 70% of those with a physical disability have been bullied, compared to 50% of those without.
Cyberbullying
♦ 7 out of 10 respondents have done something abusive towards another person online.
♦ 1 in 3 young people are scared they might be bullied online.
♦ Instagram is the most commonly used network for cyberbullying.
♦ Nearly half (42%) of all young people bullied online have been bullied on Instagram followed by Facebook (37%) and Snapchat (31%),
♦ 41% of those who have been bullied online have gone on to develop social anxiety.
♦ 7 out of 10 don’t think social networks do enough to combat bullying.
Social Media Usage
♦ Young people are increasingly addicted to social media.
♦ 60% are unable to go more than a day without using social media.
♦ Nearly 1 in 3 use it constantly.
♦ 75% use it at least several times a day.
♦ 40% said they would feel bad if nobody liked their selfie.
♦ 35% said the more followers they have the more confident they feel.
♦ 34% said they would delete a post if it didn’t get enough likes.
♦ 47% said they wouldn’t discuss the bad things going on in their lives on social media.
Liam Hackett, CEO of Ditch the Label, said: “Cyberbullying continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing young people. Our research this year uncovers the true extent and impact of online abuse.Not only is the Internet redefining the climate of bullying, but also it is having clear impacts upon the identity, behaviours and personality of its young users.
“Cyberbullying has devastating effects on the lives of so many young people and has been found to seriously undermine the health and wellbeing of those who are subjected to it. It is a societal issue that requires the full co-operation of social networks, NGO’s, policy makers, young people, educators and society as a whole to help overcome it.”
The Survey was available online to students in secondary schools and colleges across the UK between November 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017. Students were each allocated time during registration and PSHE sessions to complete the survey.
To download a full copy of the report, click here:
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