Cyberbullying and revenge porn the fears of Gen Z

The biggest risk on the web? For 58% of young people under 26, it is revenge porn. This is followed by alienation from real life (49%), harassment (47%) and cyberbullying (46%). As people get older, it is cyberbullying that becomes the most feared risk: indicated by 52% of those under 20. This is the result of the Indefense Observatory survey carried out by Terre des Hommes, together with the Scomodo community. A survey that involved more than 2,700 boys and girls under the age of 26 and was launched on the occasion of Safer Internet Day to witness the point of view of young people on the issue of online safety. The youngsters suggest more regulation of the web: 70% believe, in fact, that stricter rules could be helpful in limiting online violence. However, 13% remain sceptical, claiming that regulation would serve no purpose; only 6% believe it would limit freedom.

If revenge porn is the most feared phenomenon, it is because young people realise the risks of sharing intimate material, such as photos and videos, with others, their partners or friends: 86% recognise this practice as dangerous. This percentage rises among women and falls slightly as they get older. Teenagers are also aware that they can report the sharing of intimate content and ask for its removal, although 12.5% do not know what to do or think they cannot do anything. Despite awareness of privacy risks, more than half of the respondents say they have shared their phone or social media passwords. On the subject of sharing, 75.6% consider it a form of unacceptable control that their partner accesses their mobile phone to check what they are doing, only 2.5%, on the contrary, think it is a form of respect, but for more than 1 in 5 (22%) this gesture does not create a problem. And the figure rises when looking at the lower age groups (32% for the 15-19 age group, 36% for the under-14s).

The Defenceless Observatory reveals a generation that has experienced violence and knows how to recognise it, even in its most subtle forms. Half of the young people interviewed (48%) declare having suffered an episode of violence. The most common forms are: verbal and psychological violence (59.5%), catcalling (52%), bullying (43%), sexual harassment (38.5%). While verbal and psychological violence is suffered equally by males and females and in a higher percentage (78%) by non-binary persons, the other forms have a relevant gender connotation, with catcalling (F 67%, M 6%) and sexual harassment (F 45%, M 18%) suffered by a large majority of girls and, on the contrary, bullying (F 35%, M 66%) by males. The percentage of males under 14 who have been bullied rises sharply (89%), showing that this form of violence is particularly prevalent in school contexts or among peer groups. In contrast, non-binary persons are victims of all three types: 50% bullying and catcalling and 42% sexual harassment. The incidence of catcalling and sexual harassment also increases with age, while bullying is more frequent in the lower age groups. Although awareness of the dangers of the Internet is strong among GenZ, it is still school, across all ages, where, for the majority of adolescents, violent incidents are most likely to occur, this is the case for 56.5% of boys and girls. The street (48%) and places of entertainment (47%) are also perceived as dangerous, and we know from our previous Observatories that the web also ranks 39%.

While males, females and non-binary persons are equally able to recognise verbal violence - 90% of the respondents claim to have witnessed it - non-binary females and adolescents are more able than males to recognise psychological violence. In fact, 76% of the non-binary, 75% of the females and 64% of the males claim to have witnessed it. The percentage of those who have witnessed psychological violence also increases with age. The most frequent forms of verbal violence are: insults and insults (95%), gossip and rumours (63%), insults to friends and relatives (41%), threats (39%). Those of psychological violence: humiliation and marginalisation (78%), discrimination (52%), messages in chat rooms or on social networks (33.5%). Less frequent are episodes of physical violence, to which however an important 48% of the young people declare having witnessed. The percentage increases among non-binary persons and males (NB 64%, M 57%, F 43%) and with increasing age. The most common forms are aggression (75%), heavy teasing (51%) and abuse and bullying (26.5%).

The loss of self-esteem, security and trust in others is the main consequence of being a victim of violence, was, in fact, stated by 63% of respondents. This is followed by social anxiety and panic attacks (36%), isolation (25.5%), depression (21%), eating disorders (16%), concentration difficulties and low school performance (12%), self-harm (10%), and absenteeism (6%). Again, there are gender differences, with isolation being more common in males than social anxiety and panic attacks, which are more common in females. Non-binary boys have higher than average percentages in almost all items. When asked 'if you were a victim of bullying and cyberbullying who would you talk to about it', it is comforting to note that the majority would confide in someone. Only 7.5% of teenagers would not talk to anyone about it, while 45% would talk to friends, 31% to parents, and only 2.23% would talk to a teacher.