Social networking sites, unwanted sexual solicitation, Internet harassment, and cyberbullying

Ybarra, Michele (2008).  Social networking sites, unwanted sexual solicitation, Internet harassment, and cyberbullying. Presented at the Internet Safety Techincal Taskforce 1st Meeting, Washington, DC.

Summary:

This presentation will explore characteristics of unwanted sexual solicitation and harassment among youth, topics include:

1. Definitions

2. What are the prevalence rates over time?

3. What is the influence SNS have?

4. How do the rates online compare to those offline?

5. Are there other factors that we need to be aware of?

Findings include:

The prevalence rate of Internet harassment appears to be stable.

- SNS users are not significantly more likely to be harassed now in SNS then they were in 2006.

- School is by far the most common place youth report being bullied (31%) versus elsewhere (e.g., 13% online)

- The majority (59%) of Internet harassment comes from other minors

Also, the rate of unwanted sexual solicitation overall is stable.

- SNS users are no more likely to be solicited in an SNS now then they were in 2006.

- Similar percentages of youth report being targeted by solicitation/ harassment at school (13%) and online (10%).

- Almost half (43%) of sexual solicitations come from other minors. The overwhelming majority of targeted youth are 14 years of age and older.

Additionally, youth reporting being targeted by unwanted sexual solicitation or being harassed online are significantly more likely to also report a myriad of concurrent psychosocial problems offline.

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