Harmful online content is still targeting more and more young users. All victims should be given care immediately since their toll could be drastic.
But, some people still want to know who is more at risk of harmful online content. Are they girls or boys? Thanks to a new study, this can finally be answered.
Who's More At Risk of Harmful Online Content, Boys or Girls?
According to BBC News' latest report, academics from CRUE (Stranmillis University College's Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement) surveyed around 6,500 young users.
Their study was funded by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI). In their latest research, 2,650 participants are at the age of 14 to 18 years old. Meanwhile, 3,800 of them are 8 to 13-year-old children.
Most aged 8-13 participants (9 in 10) said they own a smartphone. Most of the 14-18 surveyees also said they have their own devices; 99% of them agreed.
Since they own personal gadgets, the new study also discovered that these teenagers spent more than seven hours per day scrolling on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and other popular platforms.
This means they are exposed to numerous online content, including harmful ones. The new study confirmed that one in five children found unpleasant videos, images, and other content while scrolling.
However, teenage girls will likely see worse online content, such as NSFW comments on their posts.
Girls are Mostly at Risk of Harmful Online Content
The new study revealed that more than 5% of 14-18-year-old girls received messages asking them to send nude videos or photos. Aside from this, 5% of them also confirmed that they received pornography and other NSFW content from other users.
When it comes to receiving suicide-promoting content, girls are also more at risk compared to boys. They also tend to see self-harm or eating disorder posts. Researchers said their findings prove that teenage girls are two times more likely to be targeted by harmful online content than young males.
The new study's results show that parents should do more to protect their children, especially their daughters. If you are a parent with girl children, the Queensland Government provided some tips on how you can ensure the safety of your kids:
- When your kids use their devices, ensure they are placed where you can see them.
- Ensure their social media accounts and gadgets have parental controls activated.
- Try knowing who your children are talking to online.
- Educate your children on how they can ensure their privacy, such as telling them how to turn off their location.
- Since some children can be secretive, the best thing you can do as a parent is to talk to them openly regarding their online activity.
