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Girls are particularly affected, as ZHAW and Swisscom wrote in a joint statement on Tuesday.
In the last six years, sexual harassment on the Internet has increased significantly from 19 to 44 percent. This is the conclusion of a survey of about 1,000 young people in Switzerland between 12 and 19 years old as part of the James study of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Swisscom, which is carried out every two years. At 55 percent, girls were more likely to be victims of sexual harassment than boys (28 percent).
“Of course, young people of this age are increasingly interested in sexual content. But it’s a completely different thing when young people unwittingly confront it, “said Michael In Albon, Youth Media Protection Officer at Swisscom, in the message. The significant increase in this type of harassment has to do with the trivialization of content sexual on the Internet.
Cyberbullying also affects the youngest
According to researchers, interest in sexual and erotic content is part of the growth and development of one’s sexuality. But it could also be problematic, as certain pornographic content conveys a false or one-sided image of sexuality and can sometimes have a disturbing effect. The survey showed that a good half of 18 and 19 year olds viewed pornographic content on their cell phones or computers or were sent erotic images.
A quarter of young people have also faced so-called “cyberbullying”, including one in ten of children between the ages of 12 and 13.
Tiktok increasingly important
James’ study (Youth, Activity, Media – Survey Switzerland) also shows that the use of mobile phones has increased considerably in the last two years. At five o’clock on weekends, it is almost two hours more than in 2018. During the week it is three hours a day, about 40 minutes more than two years ago.
The social networks where they see and like other posts are particularly important for young people. Instagram, Snapchat and Tiktok have surpassed the Facebook platform: 90 percent have an account on Instagram or Snapchat, three out of four young people have an account on Tiktok. Only 14 percent use Facebook, compared to 79 percent in 2014.
Less caution on social media
However, teens appear to be less cautious on social media: While 81 percent of respondents protected their privacy with technical settings in 2014, it was 66 percent in 2020.
According to the researchers, the reason is likely to be the network’s algorithm: “If young people restrict their privacy, they are less visible and have less reach. This limits the chances of getting likes, ”said ZHAW media psychologist Gregor Waller.
Different uses by sex
James’ study also showed that girls and boys use their cell phones for different purposes: girls communicate primarily through social media, listen to music more frequently, and 86 percent take photos regularly (compared to 62 percent of children).
For children, however, online videos and games are in the foreground. Two-thirds of them play regularly, compared to just ten percent of girls. The problem is that almost a quarter of underage players say they tend to play games that are not approved for their age.
More family, less friends
Another trend from James’ study showed that three-quarters of households with teens have a subscription like Netflix. In 2016 it was 38 percent. Music streaming and game flat-rate subscriptions also increased significantly.
According to the researchers, the partial blockage could have accelerated this development. Young people probably would have used streaming services more to distract themselves or escape the reality that is stressful for them, said ZHAW media psychologist Daniel Süss.
The crisis in the Crown is also reinforcing another trend: the family is increasingly important to young people. One third of the participants said they had done something with their family (2010: 16 percent), two-thirds with their friends (2010: 62 percent).
