What do adolescents think about … online risks and harms When participants in the State of the World’s Children 2017 workshops* were asked about their concerns in the online world, they came up with a wide variety of responses. Some echoed adult concerns about content, contact and conduct risks (see table: Typology of ICTrelated harms), but others did not: For example, participants cited technological problems and parental intrusion in their online lives as things to be concerned about.
Nevertheless, their top concern was online privacy, especially the possibility of strangers accessing their personal information. “ I am careful to avoid privacy invasion.” GIRL, 17, BRAZIL
“ I take care of my privacy, I make sure not everyone can see what I share, my pictures and status.” BOY, 15, GUATEMALA “ Social media has negative aspects because people can use my profile to create others, which is absolutely wrong.” GIRL, 15, PORTUGAL
They understood that privacy breaches might lead to further issues, such as identity theft or exploitation of their images. “ I am concerned about leakage of personal information – because this means leakage of my money and personal information.” BOY, 14, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
“ I don’t upload certain pics with which bad people can make dirty videos of us.”
“ I lock my Twitter account and make it a rule to not follow people I do not know in real life. I stop and think twice before uploading pictures of faces or locations.” GIRL, 17, JAPAN Another concern of participants was unpleasant or negative encounters online, or accessing inappropriate or suspicious websites. “ I try to be careful with the content of websites both for the issue of virus and [my information that] the website tries to transmit to the internet.” GIRL, 16, BRAZIL “ The fact that sexual photos or obnoxious advertisements are being uploaded … leads me to avoid using Facebook.” BOY, 14, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Concerns over privacy and cyberbullying made some of them hesitate to use digital technology … “ I am personally most worried about attitudes such as cyberbullying, other ways of harassment and online discrimination, and every time I see, I try to stop.” GIRL, 14, URUGUAY
GIRL, 16, BHUTAN
while a few also reported concerns that their parents or caregivers might view what they post online. “ I think, would my parents read my messages?” GIRL, 15, BURUNDI
They cited a wide range of strategies for protecting privacy, across a variety of platforms and devices. “ I am … careful not to disclose personal information, especially when chatting.” GIRL, 16, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
“ Cyberbullying. I am afraid of my friends commenting on my photo posted on Facebook.” GIRL, 16, SOLOMON ISLANDS. “ I’ve been [cyberbullied by my friends] … they blame me because I have weird interest like anime and etc., and they keep mocking me until now.” GIRL, 17, MALAYSIA as did the possibility of encountering annoying or disturbing content – such as violence, persistent pop-ups and unsolicited advertising. “ Sometimes, when we use Google or social media on a laptop then there is like a pop-out of a porn website.” GIRL, 16, MALAYSIA