NCJ Number
245149
Date Published
July 2014
Length
57 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes findings from the Third Youth Internet Safety Survey.
Abstract
The survey's topics include youth reports of unwanted sexual solicitations, online harassment, unwanted exposure to sexual material, and "sexting." Highlights from the findings include the following: between 2000 and 2010, unwanted sexual solicitation fell from 19 percent in 2000 to 13 percent in 2005 to 9 percent in 2010, while online harassment increased from 6 percent in 2000 to 9 percent in 2005 to 11 percent in 2010; older adolescents (aged 13 to 17) were more likely to have unwanted online experiences than adolescents aged 10-12; the main source of unwanted sexual solicitations was other youth and young adults under the age of 25; most sexual solicitations occurred in social networking sites; and an increasing number of youth reported telling friends and parents about incidences of unwanted online solicitations. This survey was conducted to continue to track existing trends in the number and types of threats encountered by youth while using technology. The survey was conducted through telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of young Internet users, aged 10 through 17. Topics covered in the survey included experiences of sexual solicitation, unwanted exposure to sexual material, and harassment via the Internet; involvement in sexting; knowledge of Internet safety practices; and assessment of factors that might make some youth more vulnerable than others. Results of the survey were compared with those from the first two waves of the survey conducted in 1999-2000 and 2005. Tables, figures, and references