More than half of teens ages 13-17 have seen violence on social media – survey
Research shows that more than half of young people between the ages of 13 and 17 have seen actual violence, such as a fight, threat, or sexual assault, on social media in the last 12 months.
A survey conducted for the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) also found that 24% had seen another child carrying a weapon online.
A poll of 2,025 teenagers on their experience of violence found that 14% had skipped school for fear of becoming a victim of violence, and 65% said they were concerned about their behavior, appearance, or safety. It became clear that they changed where they were going to secure it.
YEF Executive Director John Yates said: This is important.
“child Tell me how fear of violence keeps me from skipping school, losing sleep, and missing out on the joyful moments of my childhood.
“It shouldn’t be this way. Social media companies need to do more to keep kids safe online.”
About two-thirds of the children surveyed, 1,377 out of 2,025, answered the question about being violent themselves.
Just under a fifth (19%) of those questioned said they had been violent in the past year, mostly by kicking, punching or pushing others. was.
The percentage of children who have seen live violence online varies by region.
55% of respondents have seen violent content online, rising to 60% in the North West, North East and London. In the Southwest she drops to 44%.
The most common forms of violence were fighting (44%) and threatening to hit someone (33%), while 13% had seen a sexual assault and 24% said someone had a weapon. I’ve seen you.
Fatumata Bayo Diba, 19, YEF Youth Advisory Board member, said: I have a younger brother.
“I worry about how accessible this kind of content is to them. people Children, in particular, are desensitized to the fear that surrounds them. ”
YEF funds programs to prevent children and young people from being affected by violence and research into the most effective ways to do so.
According to Iryna Pona, policy manager at The Children’s Society, the charity’s own research shows that nearly 1 in 5 children are victims of crime or antisocial behavior, and nearly 4 in 10 are victims of crime or anti-social behavior. I worry about young people becoming victims.
she said: “violence It puts young lives at risk and does enormous damage to children’s well-being, learning and life chances.
“Through our services, we learn that when children are harmed by violence, it is often the result of being groomed and exploited by criminals and sexual predators, rather than lifestyle choices. “
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/research-children-violence-people-north-west-b2224344.html More than half of teens ages 13-17 have seen violence on social media – survey