Microsoft Survey Shows Negative Online Interactions Affect People In Real Life (computerworld.com)

"Preliminary results of a new Microsoft survey show nearly two-thirds of people surveyed had at least one negative online experience that had an impact on them in the real world, ranging from a loss of trust in others, increased stress or sleep deprivation," reports Computerworld. Microsoft's chief online safety officer writes: Both adults and teens said they became less trusting of others in the real world after a negative interaction online (adults: 31%, teens: 29%). Consequences to adults that outpaced those to teens included the older generation becoming less trusting of people online (42% of adults vs. 37% of youth), and a reluctance to participate in blogs and other online forums (23% of adults vs. 20% of teens)... The study, "Civility, Safety and Interaction Online -- 2016," polled youth ages 13-17 and adults ages 18-74 in 14 countries... Half reported being "extremely or very" worried about online risks generally, with the most common concerns being unwanted contact (43%) and various forms of harassment (39%).
Microsoft's blog post urges people to "Embrace digital civility and model healthy behaviors for young people both online and off" -- and also notes that today is World Kindness Day.

Comments

Anonymity, even partial, equals cruelty

[HBI]

No social contract. Look through history...if you are an unknown quantity in a place, you are safe in doing nasty things. Do you really think raping and pillaging cities and towns after battle was driven by blood lust - no, it was just that normal forms of enforcement weren't happening, and no one knew you.

This is unsurprising and won't change.