Online risks can mean real-world consequences
Preliminary results of a new Microsoft survey show nearly two-thirds of people surveyed had at least one negative online experience that had an impact on them in the real world, ranging from a loss of trust in others, increased stress or sleep deprivation,.
The study, “Civility, Safety and Interaction Online – 2016,” polled youths aged 13 to 17 and adults aged 18 to 74 in 14 countries. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those polled said they had fallen victim at some point to at least one of 17 different online risks. Microsoft has not yet disclosed what those 17 risks are but will in the final report, due next February.
That figure grows to 78 percent when respondents also considered the online experiences of their friends and families. Half of those surveyed reported being "extremely or very" worried about online risks generally, with the most common concerns being unwanted contact (43 percent) and various forms of harassment (39 percent).
