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WASHINGTON D.C. — Statistics show online harassment is a growing problem.
According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of adult Internet users have seen someone be harassed online and 40 percent have experienced harassment.
A majority of online harassment includes name-calling and embarrassing someone, while a smaller percentage includes more severe bullying such as stalking, sexually harassing and physically threatening, Pew Research reports.
The survey shows that men are more prone to experience name-calling and embarrassment, and women are usually the victims of sexual harassment and stalking.
Two factors linked to experiencing online harassment are age and gender, Pew Research found.
Young adults ages 18-29 are most likely to be bullied on the Internet. Women and young adults experience the majority of harassment on social media, while men report to experiencing harassment on online gaming.
- 66% of victims experience harassment on social media
- 22% said it was on the comments of a website
- 16% said online gaming
- 16% experienced harassment on a personal email account
- 10% reported experiencing harassment on sites like Reddit
- 6% said online dating website
Thirty-eight percent of Internet users who have experienced harassment told Pew Research a stranger was usually involved in their online harassment.
According to Pew Research, those who experienced stalking, physical threats or sexual harassment were more likely to respond to harassment than those who are victims of name-calling and embarrassment.
Halt Abuse suggests keeping proof of any communication with the harasser and turning it into the police or the proper authority in the situation.
These proofs can be used to testify against a harasser in court in case they try to turn the story around.
Stay Safe Online advises Internet users to exercise precaution by enabling privacy and security settings on websites and social media.
