On International Children's Rights Day on 20 November 2020, and as the French people experience a new period of lockdown, the e-Enfance Association unveils a survey on digital practices and cyberviolence, conducted among teenagers (aged 10–19) and their parents during the first lockdown last May.
This survey was conducted by OpinionWay for the Association e-Enfance (a recognised public interest organisation), the benchmark for protection of minors on the Internet since 2005, shows that the lockdown period from March to May 2020 had a greater impact on the 10-15 age group (secondary school pupils).
A more marked increase in digital usage among 10-15 year olds
Parents placed few restrictions on their children's use of digital devices, who spent more time on screens than usual. This behaviour was even more pronounced among secondary school pupils (aged 10-15), who nearly half of them (48 %) acknowledge that their parents were less strict. Teenagers have used digital technology not only for recreational purposes, as usual, but also for educational purposes (7 out of 10 teenagers had access to a virtual classroom or online forums for chatting with their classmates). They say that using social media was mainly a reassuring way for them to stay in touch with their friends.
Cyberbullying in teenagers' virtual classrooms
Nevertheless 8 % for adolescents who had access to virtual classrooms witnessed cyberbullying in these new spaces for interaction.
On the parents' side, among the online problems frequently experienced by teenagers during lockdown, they mention cyberviolence with a prevalence of insults and one explosion of online scams intended for minors (22 % vs 7 % outside confinement).
The main reasons cited by young victims of cyberviolence regarding their perpetrators are jealousy and physical appearance. On the other hand, they mention less often the revenge than in normal times (8 % vs 22 %), but much more so anger (21 % vs 13 %); in addition to the boredom caused by lockdown, the period had a negative impact on young people's mood.
For 90% of adolescents who are victims of this online violence, Their first instinct is to talk about it, mainly with their parents. A new development during lockdown is that many more than usual have talked about it on social media. forums (10 % vs. 2 % outside confinement).
Samuel Comblez, Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Director of Operations at the e-Enfance Association, analyses this trend: «Teenagers need to interact with their peers, particularly to reinforce their sense of belonging to a community outside the family unit, which they need to distance themselves from in order to develop. During lockdown, the lack of space encouraged young people to turn more towards these online communities. Forums are great places for experimentation, allowing young people to assert themselves and stand out while conforming to the group whose values they share.»
Impact on future usage by teenagers more pronounced among 10-15 year olds
A quarter of secondary school pupils (aged 10–15) are considering changing their behaviour with regard to their digital habits and social media use following lockdown, in particular reducing their screen time, with a lower proportion among secondary school pupils (aged 15-19) (19 % vs 26 %). Their parents are also more likely than those of high school students to share this desire to reduce their teenagers« screen time following the »overload" experienced during lockdown.
However, as a sign that digital habits developed during lockdown have become a permanent feature of family life, Half of parents do not plan to change the rules, and 10% will even be more tolerant.
Social relationships more affected for 10-15 year olds
Nearly one-third of secondary school pupils (aged 10–15) feel that they have grown apart from their friends during lockdown, twice as many as secondary school pupils (aged 15-19) (30 % vs 16 %). At the same time, nearly half (45 %) acknowledge that the period brought them closer to their parents (vs. 38 % of secondary school students).
Justine Atlan, Managing Director of the e-Enfance Association, comments : « Unsurprisingly, lockdown has increased our digital usage. It has also encouraged a new dialogue between parents and their children about the internet, social media and video games. It has also restored value to the family unit. During this second lockdown, we must remain attentive to our teenagers» need to interact with their peers, particularly those aged 10-15 who are still developing their relationships with others. This can make them more vulnerable, especially in the virtual world.»
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Press Contacts
Gaëlle de Montoussé – +44 (0)7 09 77 51 04 – g.demontousse@e-enfance.org
Sandra Tricot – +44 (0)6 65 85 85 65 – stricot@kbzcorporate.com
About the e-Enfance Association
Recognised as being of public utility, the e-Enfance Association has been the benchmark for child protection on the Internet and digital citizenship education since 2005. Approved by the French Ministry of Education, it offers interventions in schools, training on the risks and proper use of the Internet, and operates the Net Ecoute helpline for young victims of cyber violence and their parents, and for combating cyberbullying.
Free, anonymous, and confidential, Net Listening 3018 is the national toll-free number specialising in the protection of minors on the Internet. It is the only alert system directly linked to social networks, the «Pharos» platform of the National Police and the «Brigade numérique» of the National Gendarmerie, and the 119-Enfance en danger helpline. www.netecoute.fr
