e-Enfance Association / Heyme Lab / OpinionWay (February 2020)
Study on cyberviolence conducted from 4 to 14 February 2020, involving 1,000 parents and their teenage children (500 secondary school pupils aged 10 to 15; 500 sixth form pupils aged 15 to 19).
The sample is representative of this population in terms of gender, age, and region of the adolescents.
DIGITAL USES
- Households have on average more than 5 digital devices (5.2) (smartphone, television, laptop, games console, tablet).
- 2 out of 10 secondary school pupils say they are constantly connected to digital devices.
- Passive screen use among teenagers: 70% of teenagers watch videos.
- 52 % adolescents state that they send private messages via social media.
- 62 % adolescents say they are unable to live without their smartphone for more than a day.
- As for parents, 22% of them use Snapchat. is one of the three most widely used social networks.
IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON YOUNG PEOPLE
- Awareness of the risks associated with digital technology is shared by parents and their children.
- For parents, the use of digital technology primarily causes psychological risks : concentration problems (68 %) and mood disorders (agitation, aggression, etc.) (58 %).
- Adolescents also report being affected by serious psychological disorders. at least once a month : problems concentrating, mood disorders, feeling that one's life is not as good as others', loss of self-confidence, or feelings of anxiety.
- To limit negative effects When asked about the impact of digital technology on young people, the majority of parents (56 per cent) spontaneously mention rules and restrictions on use, before prevention and education, a perception shared by adolescents who mention a need for «rules» (41 %), including «usage limits/connection time» (24 %).
STATUS OF ONLINE VIOLENCE
1 in 10 teenagers states that they have already been a victim of cyberbullying.
The reasons most frequently cited by victims are:
- the « jealousy / envy »: 39 %
- the « physics »: 33 %
- the « revenge »: 22 %
The primary reasons cited by authors who posted, shared, or liked an insulting comment are:
- « for fun »: 27 %
- « do as others do »: 26 %
15 % for adolescents believe that «liking» an insulting comment is not considered cyberbullying.
21 % for adolescents state that they know someone close to them who has been a victim of cyber violence.
For 9 out of 10 teenagers victims of this online violence, the first instinct is to’talk about it and mainly to their parents.
ROLE OF PARENTS
- They underestimate their children's ability to be authors online violence: twice as many of their children report having committed online violence than their projections.
- And only 42 % from parents have already discussed with their children the risk of harming someone online (whether intentionally or unintentionally).
- They partially identify The reasons why teenagers engage in online violence: they believe that they are acting mainly out of social conformity.
- 56 % adolescents who commit acts of violence did not face any sanctions or suffer any consequences as a result of their actions. 22 % adolescents who commit online violence were punished by their parents and only 4 % by the educational institution.
- However, empowerment has a real impact: 9 out of 10 teenage perpetrators having suffered the consequences of their actions, acknowledge have become aware of their gesture.
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
- Parents and teenagers agree on the need for «Strengthen penalties for perpetrators of online violence» 68% (parents), 65 % (teenagers).
- Half of parents (51 %) also highlights a need for adult education (both for parents and professionals).
