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Highlights Of The Youth Internet Safety Survey

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
March 2001 #04
Highlights of the Youth Internet
Safety Survey
by David Finkelhor, Kimberly Mitchell, and Janis Wolak
The Youth Internet Safety Survey, conducted by the Crimes against
However, identities are easy to disguise on the Internet, so the
Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire,
solicitors may not have been the age or gender they claimed to be.
collected information about incidents of possible online victimiza-
Seventy percent of these unwanted solicitations happened when
tion through telephone interviews with a national sample of 1,501
the youth was using a computer at home, and most of the remain-
youth ages 10 through 17 who used the Internet regularly (at least
ing 30 percent happened at someone else’s home. Two-thirds of
once a month for the past 6 months). The survey addressed three
the solicitations took place in chat rooms, and 24 percent were
main issues: sexual solicitations and approaches, unwanted
received through Instant Messages (e-mail messages sent and
exposure to sexual material, and harassment.
received in real time).
Most of the incidents (75 percent) were described by youth as not
Sexual Solicitations and Approaches
distressing, but 25 percent were described as very or extremely
The survey revealed that many youth are victims of online sexual
upsetting or frightening. The respondents did not tell anyone
solicitations:
about 49 percent of the sexual solicitations. Twenty-four percent
x Almost one in five (19 percent) of the young Internet users
were disclosed to parents. More than one-third of aggressive
surveyed received an unwanted sexual solicitation in the past
incidents (i.e., the solicitor tried to make personal contact) were
year.
undisclosed.
x Five percent of the surveyed youth received a distressing sex-
Unwanted Exposure to Sexual Material
ual solicitation (i.e., the solicitation made them feel very or
extremely upset or afraid).
The survey also found that many youth are exposed to sexually
explicit pictures on the Internet without seeking or expecting
x Three percent of the youth received an aggressive solicitation
them:
involving offline contact or attempts or requests for offline
contact.
x Twenty-five percent of the surveyed youth reported unwanted
exposures to sexual material.
x None of the solicitations led to an actual sexual contact or
assault.
x Six percent of the youth had experienced distressing exposures
(i.e., the exposure made them very or extremely upset).
One-third of the surveyed youth who had received a solicitation
were male; two-thirds were female. The great majority (77 per-
A slightly higher percentage of boys than girls reported expo-
cent) of the victims were 14 to 17 years old; however, almost one
sures (57 percent vs. 42 percent) or distressing exposures (55
quarter were ages 10 to 13. The younger group reported 37
percent vs. 45 percent). Almost two-thirds of exposures were to
percent of the distressing solicitations.
youth ages 15 to 17. Less than one-tenth were to 11- and 12-year-
olds, and none to 10-year-olds.
Ninety-seven percent of the solicitors were strangers. According
to the youth, adults (age 18 and older) made 24 percent of all
Seventy-one percent of the exposures occurred while youth were
solicitations and 34 percent of aggressive solicitations. Juveniles
surfing or searching the Web, with the rest occurring through
made 48 percent of all solicitations and 48 percent of aggressive
e-mail or Instant Messages. In 67 percent of the incidents, youth
solicitations. (The age of the solicitor was unknown in the re-
were at home when the unwanted exposure occurred; in 15 per-
maining incidents.) Two-thirds of all solicitations came from
cent, they were at school; in 13 percent, they were at someone
males. One quarter of aggressive solicitations came from females.
else’s home; and in 3 percent, they were at a library.
The great majority of exposures involved pictures with nudity; 38
x Online reporting resources like the National Center for
percent showed people having sex. Eight percent included violent
Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC’s) CyberTipline
images. Twenty-three percent of the incidents of unwanted ex-
(www.cybertipline.com) should be better publicized to reach
posure were described as very or extremely upsetting; however,
a broader audience of youth.
most incidents were not reported to be distressing. Forty-four
x Mental health, school, and family counselors should receive
percent of incidents were undisclosed.
training about the effects of online hazards on youth.
Harassment
x More understanding is needed about families’ knowledge of,
attitudes about, and experiences with filtering and blocking
The survey also revealed that some youth are victims of online
software.
harassment:
x Concern about Internet victimization should not eclipse efforts
x Six percent of the young people surveyed reported harassment
to combat other forms of youth victimization (e.g., assault,
incidents (threats, rumors, or other offensive behavior) during
abuse, and neglect).
the past year.
The Youth Internet Safety Survey was commissioned by NCMEC
x Two percent of the surveyed youth reported episodes of dis-
and supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
tressing harassment (i.e., the incident made them feel very or
Prevention. Complete results from the survey are available in
extremely upset or afraid).
Online Victimization: A Report on the Nation’s Youth, which can be
downloaded at www.missingkids.com (select the links “Education
Other Findings
and Resources,” “Library of Resources,” and “Internet”).
Overall, few of the solicitations, exposures, and harassments were
reported to authorities (police, hotlines, Internet service provid-
For Further Information
ers, or teachers). For example, only 18 percent of even the most
For further information, contact the National Center for Missing
serious incidents, aggressive solicitations, were reported. When
and Exploited Children, Charles B. Wang International Children’s
reports were made, it was mostly to Internet service providers.
Building, 699 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314–3175, 703–
Most of the families with youth who used the Internet regularly
274–3900 (phone), 703–274–2222 (fax), www.missingkids.com
did not use filtering or blocking software. Thirty-eight percent
(Internet) or the Crimes against Children Research Center, Univer-
had used such software at some time in the past year, but 5
sity of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, 603–862–1888
percent had discontinued its use.
(phone), 603–862–1122 (fax), www.unh.edu/ccrc/ (Internet).
Conclusion
David Finkelhor, Ph.D., is the Director of the Crimes against Children
Research Center (CCRC) and a Professor of Sociology at the University
Many young people are being subjected to dangerous and
of New Hampshire. Kimberly Mitchell, Ph.D., is a Post Doctoral Fellow
inappropriate experiences on the Internet. The offenses and
at CCRC. Janis Wolak, J.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at CCRC.
offenders are diverse, and the primary vulnerable population is
teenagers. The study yielded a number of recommendations,
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a compo-
including the following:
nent of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau
of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National
x Youth and families should be encouraged to report incidents to
Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.
Internet service providers and, when appropriate, to law
enforcement.
FS–200104
FS–200104
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