Online Victimization Research Articles

Risk factors in the digital space

Aim: The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of children’s Internet usage and their activities in relation to the risk factors and some of the effects of victimisation in the digital world, besides looking at a few of the relevant functional characteristics of social media. By identifying pertinent criminological factors that contribute to harmful behaviours targeting children in the cyber domain, this research contributes understanding of the preventive measures or potential risks associated with online victimisation and the development of digital technologies in safeguarding children online.Methodology: The research mainly reviews and analyses relevant data from academic literature, policy documents, legal sources and statistics in a criminological theoretical context.Findings: The study highlights that children dedicate a substantial amount of time to the digital space, and alongside its advantages, the risk of becoming victims also escalates. Drawing attention to children’s emotional vulnerability and the effects of online abuse is particularly crucial in terms of prevention and intervention. Constant enhancement of regulations and measures, diligent monitoring of international best practices, comprehending and effectively addressing emerging technologies and trends, as well as promoting collaboration among stakeholders, can facilitate a more effective safeguarding of children in cyberspace.Value: The study facilitates a better comprehension of children’s internet usage habits and the risks inherent in them, as well as the processes and circumstances leading to online victimisation, thereby promoting the development of law enforcement and regulatory practices that prioritise effective victim protection and the consideration of children’s rights. Additionally, it aids in the establishment of child protection protocols and collaborations that take into account the aforementioned aspects.

Adolescent Use of Dating Applications and the Associations with Online Victimization and Psychological Distress.

In this study, we examined the relationships between the use of online dating applications (apps), online victimization, and psychosocial distress among adolescents. This study was conducted in 2020. A sample of 2595 seventh-grade students from 30 Taiwanese middle schools was surveyed. We conducted a self-administered survey. Overall, 15% of the adolescents reported using online dating apps in the past year, while 78% reported having seen dating app advertisements on the internet in the past year. Multivariate analysis results indicated that adolescents' exposure to the marketing of dating apps and poor academic performance were both associated with the use of online dating apps. Adolescents who used dating apps were more likely to experience online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment. The use of dating apps by adolescents, online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In conclusion, adolescent use of dating apps is related to online victimization and psychological distress.

Adolescent Cybervictimization in 31 Countries: The Gender Gap, Gendered Opportunity, and the Contextual Influence of Gender Stratification

Abstract This study examined the gender gap, gendered opportunity, and the contextual influence of gender inequality and women’s absolute status with respect to online stalking victimization and online image-based victimization (IBV) among youths in 31 countries. Descriptive analysis allowed for comparison of prevalence of online stalking and IBV across gender. We estimated sex-specific hierarchical logistic regression models that examined the relationships between indicators of risky lifestyle, social attachments, physical/social vulnerability and online stalking victimization and IBV. We estimated multilevel models that focused on the linear and curvilinear effects of country-level gender inequality and women’s absolute status (WAS) on the average country-level odds of online stalking victimization and IBV. There were both cross-gender similarities and differences regarding the individual-level correlates of both types of adolescent cybervictimization examined. Countries that had relatively greater gender inequality tended to exhibit a higher prevalence of boys’ and girls’ victimization. Findings suggest that student-level programs should address risk, vulnerability, and protective factors across the three student life domains of risky lifestyle, social attachments, and physical and social vulnerability. Addressing risky lifestyle seems particularly important for reducing girls’ victimization. Moreover, reducing gender inequality or increasing women’s absolute status can play a role in reducing youth online victimization generally.

Effects of Individual and Contextual Dimensions on an Aggregate Measure of Cybervictimization

ABSTRACT Cybervictimization is a significant challenge and increasing concern. This study explored the predictors of an aggregate measure of six different types of cybervictimization, incorporating property (online consumer fraud, online identity theft), interpersonal (cyberbullying and cyberstalking), as well as phishing and malware infection crimes. An online survey was self-administered to 726 individuals, measuring sociodemographic variables and routine activity variables, stemming from Routine Activities Theory (RAT). Of the 726 individuals, 440 were already victims of at least one cybercrime. Communicating or giving personal information to unknown individuals doubled the likelihood of being victimized online. Education increased the likelihood of victimization, while higher income was associated with a lower likelihood of online victimization. These results are discussed in relation to the RAT framework and existing empirical studies that have applied it to explain online victimization.

Development and codesign of flourish: A digital suicide prevention intervention for LGBTQ+ youth who have experienced online victimization

BackgroundLGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionately high rates of online victimization (OV), referring to harmful remarks, images, or behaviors in online settings, which is associated with suicidal risk. Current services have gaps in supporting LGBTQ+ youth facing OV events. To address these gaps, this study aims to develop Flourish, a digital suicide prevention intervention for LGBTQ+ youth who have experienced OV. MethodsQualitative interviews were conducted with 20 LGBTQ+ youth with past-year history of OV and lifetime history of suicidality, 11 of their parents, and 10 LGBTQ+-serving professionals. Subsequently, an iterative codesign process was conducted with 22 youth through individual and group design sessions, followed by usability testing. Data were recorded and transcribed. Qualitative interviews were analyzed using a qualitative description approach, and data from design sessions and usability testing were analyzed using rapid qualitative techniques. ResultsInterviews with youth, parents, and professionals suggested preferences for Flourish to be a partially automated, text message intervention leveraging web-based content that is a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to seek support for OV through education, coping skills, and help-seeking resources. School and mental health services professionals considered the potential for implementing Flourish within youth services settings. Usability testing, assessed through the System Usability Scale, yielded an average rating of 91, indicating excellent perceived usability. ConclusionsFlourish has potential to be an acceptable intervention to support LGBTQ+ youth following OV. Future steps will include testing the feasibility and efficacy of Flourish and further examining Flourish's potential for implementation within services for LGBTQ+ youth.

Virtual Socializing and Nonlinear Effects on Victimization.

Previous research documents relationships between unstructured socializing activities and in-person victimization in adolescents. In parallel, there is a body of research which has linked virtual socialization activities (i.e., social networking, texting, video chatting, phone usage) with both online and in-person victimization. The majority of research in this area, however, has assumed the relationship between time spent engaging in virtual socializing and victimization is linear. Yet, there are several reasons to anticipate that while virtual socializing may initially increase the risks for in-person victimization, after adolescents begin spending a significant portion of their free time socializing virtually this may function to displace time they would have otherwise spent engaging in unstructured socializing in-person. As a result, very high levels of engagement in virtual socializing may actually lower the risks for in-person victimization. This study addresses this gap in the literature by utilizing negative binomial regression and logistic regression to test for nonlinearity in the relationship between virtual socializing and three forms of in-person victimization (i.e., violent, property, and in-person bullying) using data from the 8th and 10th grade 2018 cohort of Monitoring the Future. In addition, this study tests for nonlinearity in the relationship between virtual socializing and one form of online victimization (i.e., cyberbullying). Our findings reveal that virtual socializing is associated with all four forms of victimization. In addition, tests for nonlinearity revealed that virtual socializing exhibits a nonlinear relationship with in-person property victimization and cyberbullying victimization. Additional analyses revealed differential relationships between individual virtual socializing activities and the risks for property victimization. On the other hand, three out of the four forms of virtual socializing activities were found to exhibit nonlinear relationships with the likelihood of cyberbullying victimization. Overall, these findings imply that virtual socializing activities appear to exhibit nonlinear relationships with several forms of victimization.

Risky digital behavior or risky digital places? Victimization risk perception and evaluation on the internet

ABSTRACT This study applies context-based approaches to victimization risk perception in digital spaces. Vignettes are randomly assigned to a convenience sample of internet users and analyzed to determine how digital location and user behavior affects perceived likelihood of malware victimization and objective risk evaluation. Means-differences tests between conjoint treatment groups show statistically significant differences on all dependent variables between respondents who received high risk site/high risk behavior scenarios and those who received low risk site/low risk behavior scenarios. Internet users’ risk perception is affected both by location in digital space and user behavior, but these effects vary when measured in a conjoint scenario. In the context of online victimization, the findings suggest that internet users’ risk perceptions are influenced by behavior regardless of location. This conclusion supports prior research suggesting that digital victimology should examine specific behaviors on the internet such as information-sharing, rather than types of websites visited, to better understand how individuals navigate victimization risk in digital space.

There’s a tear in my beer: Bullying victimisation and young teenage drinking in Sweden

Victims of bullying are at an increased risk not only of developing adverse mental health, but also of engaging in health risk behaviours. One way in which adolescents may cope with the health-related consequences of bullying victimisation is through substance use such as alcohol and narcotics, as posited by the self-medication hypothesis. Indeed, previous research has found a link between traditional (face-to-face) bullying victimisation and alcohol use among adolescents, albeit with some inconsistencies. However, studies examining both traditional bullying and cyberbullying among youth often report an association only between cyberbullying victimisation and drinking. The current study seeks to add to this field of research by analysing the predictive capacity of traditional and cyberbullying victimisation for youth drinking whilst also adjusting for bullying perpetration and sociodemographic characteristics. In the analyses, we distinguished between occasional and frequent victimisation, and performed separate investigations of how specific types of traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimisation are related to youth drinking.Data were obtained from the Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, with pooled cross-sectional information from 2013/14 and 2017/18 collected among 13- and 15-year-old students (n = 7126). Any alcohol use and drunkenness during the past 30 days were used as dependent variables. The respondents were categorised as non-victims, occasional victims, and frequent victims of traditional and cyberbullying, respectively. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between bullying victimisation and youth drinking.The results showed that 21.2% of students reported that they had been bullied at least once or twice in the past months, either as victims of traditional bullying only (8.3%), cyberbullying only (7.8%), or both (5.1%). When both types of bullying victimisation were mutually adjusted for, only cyberbullying remained significantly associated with an increased risk of drinking. However, when specific types of face-to-face bullying victimisation were analysed, several statistically significant associations with youth drinking were found, even when controlling for cyberbullying victimisation. Associations with any alcohol use and drunkenness were overall very similar.To conclude, this study corroborates previous research which has shown youth drinking to be more consistently related with cyberbullying victimisation than with traditional bullying victimisation. The study also extends previous knowledge by showing that the association between traditional bullying victimisation and youth drinking differs depending on the operationalisation of victimisation. Future research might benefit from examining this more thoroughly. The findings highlight that interventions targeting bullying and its effects should consider both face-to-face and online victimisation.

Solicitation and Sexualized Interactions of Minors with Adults: Prevalence, Overlap with Other Forms of Cybervictimization, and Relationship with Quality of Life.

Sexual solicitation and sexualized interaction with minors by adults constitute one of the most pernicious risks of the Internet. Little is known about the age range in which this phenomenon is most prevalent or the relationship and overlap of this problem with other risks, such as peer-to-peer cybervictimization and cyber dating abuse. Additionally, little empirical evidence exists on whether the overlap between these types of online victimization affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to: 1) analyze the prevalence of sexual solicitation and interaction according to sex and stage of adolescence; 2) relate this problem to other forms of online victimization (cybervictimization and cyber dating abuse); 3) analyze the overlap between these forms of online victimization and differences in HRQoL scores. A cross-sectional and analytical study with 3,578 adolescents (52.7% girls) aged between 10-15 years was carried out. Of the adolescents in the study sample, 12.6% (n = 448) had received sexual requests and 6.4% (n = 230) had interacted sexually with adults. Sexual solicitation was most common among girls in middle adolescence. Of the participants, 33.9% (n = 1,216) had been involved in some form of online victimization. Peer cybervictimization and cyber dating abuse were positively and significantly correlated with sexualized solicitation/interactions with adults. Victims with the overlapping of all three types of online victimization (2.7%, n = 98) presented the lowest HQRoL scores (p < .001).

Online and Offline Bullying/Harassment and Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination among Iranian Adolescents

Bullying and cyberbullying are prevalent among school-age children. A considerable number of adolescents experience different forms of bullying due to various reasons, such as their race and ethnicity. Previous research has examined the effect of ethnicity and race on school bullying and victimization, mostly in Western cultures. Iran is a country with diverse ethnic backgrounds, and no research has investigated this issue in Iranian schools. This study aimed to examine the interplay of online and offline victimization and online and offline ethnic discrimination among adolescents in Iran. It also aimed to investigate gender differences in the experience of victimization and ethnic discrimination among Iranian adolescents. The participants were a sample of 156 Iranian adolescents (116 females and 40 males) who completed an online survey, including demographic questions and self-report measures of victimization and racial–ethnic discrimination. The results showed that non-Fars minority adolescents reported a greater experience of online victimization, online and offline ethnic discrimination than the majority of Fars ethnicity adolescents. Additionally, the minority group reported a higher victimization experience than the Fars majority in online settings, but not offline. Female participants reported a higher experience of online victimization and online ethnic discrimination than male adolescents.

Associations Among Web-Based Civic Engagement and Discrimination, Web-Based Social Support, and Mental Health and Substance Use Risk Among LGBT Youth: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Social media use is ubiquitous among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender or nonbinary (LGBT) adolescents. The time spent on LGBT sites and involvement in social justice-oriented web-based civic activities can increase exposure to heterosexist and transphobic posts, resulting in increases in depression, anxiety, and substance use. Collaborative social justice civic engagement may also increase LGBT adolescents' social support on the web, which may buffer the mental health and substance use risks associated with web-based discrimination. Drawing on the minority stress and stress-buffering hypotheses, this study aimed to test time spent on LGBT sites, involvement in web-based social justice activities, the mediating effect of web-based discrimination, and the moderating effect of web-based social support on mental health and substance use. An anonymous web-based survey conducted from October 20 to November 18, 2022, analyzed data from 571 respondents (mean age 16.4, SD 1.1 years): 125 cisgender lesbian girls, 186 cisgender gay boys, 111 cisgender bisexual adolescents, and 149 transgender or nonbinary adolescents. Measures included demographics, web-based LGBT identity disclosure, hours per week spent on LGBT social media sites, engagement in web-based social justice activities (Online Civic Engagement Behavior Construct), exposure to web-based discrimination (Online Victimization Scale), web-based social support (adapted from scales examining web-based interactions), depressive and anxiety symptoms, and substance use (the Patient Health Questionnaire modified for Adolescents; Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item; and Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble Screening Test). The time spent on LGBT social media sites was unrelated to web-based discrimination after civic engagement was accounted for (90% CI -0.007 to 0.004). Web-based social justice civic engagement was positively associated with social support (β=.4, 90% CI 0.2-0.4), exposure to discrimination (β=.6, 90% CI 0.5-0.7), and higher substance use risk (β=.2, 90% CI 0.2-0.6). Consistent with minority stress theory, exposure to web-based discrimination fully mediated the positive association between LGBT justice civic engagement and depressive (β=.3, 90% CI 0.2-0.4) and anxiety symptoms (β=.3, 90% CI 0.2-0.4). Web-based social support did not moderate the association between exposure to discrimination with depressive (90% CI -0.07 to 0.1) and anxiety symptoms (90% CI -0.06 to 0.1) and substance use (90% CI -0.04 to 0.01). This study highlights the importance of examining LGBT youth's specific web-based activities and the need for future research to focus on the intersectional experiences of LGBT adolescents from racial and ethnic minoritized groups through culturally sensitive questions. This study also calls for social media platforms to implement policies that mitigate the effects of algorithms that expose youth to heterosexist and transphobic messaging, such as adopting machine learning algorithms that can efficiently recognize and remove harmful content.

Too Lucky to Be a Victim? An Exploratory Study of Online Harassment and Hate Messages Faced by Social Media Influencers

Influencers are persistently exposed through social media. Once almost unapproachable, celebrities are now open to daily interaction with the public. From comments, polls, emails, and even private messages, the public can engage with their celebrities with a mere click. While this engagement provides influencers with advantages, it also renders them particularly susceptible to online harassment and toxic critics. This paper investigates the characteristics, impact, and reactions to cyber victimisation among social media influencers. To accomplish this objective, the paper presents the findings of two studies: a self-reported online victimisation survey conducted among Spanish influencers and an online ethnography. The results indicate that over 70% of influencers have encountered some form of online harassment and toxic critics. Cyber victimisation, its effects, and reactions vary across socio-demographic characteristics and the influencers’ profiles. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis of the online ethnography reveals that harassed influencers can be classified as non-ideal victims. The implications of these findings for the literature are discussed.

What is a capable guardian to older fraud victims? Comparison of younger and older victims' characteristics of online fraud utilizing routine activity theory.

The paper compares victim group characteristics: we test routine activities theory to compare the differences in online fraud vulnerabilities of victims aged 18-54 and victims of 55 and above. A representative sample of US citizens 18 and above was collected in October 2020. Victims under 55 encompassed 35.3% (n = 915), victims 55 and above 12.9% (n = 334) of the total sample (n = 2,589). We utilized non-parametric statistical methods for testing whether older and younger victims' characteristics can be derived from the same independent variables. Computer time, computer familiarity, and technical guardians determine online victimization in older individuals, similarly to younger age groups. However, older victims differ in characteristics from younger victims. Seniors were less likely to apply technical guardians such as camera cover, identity theft monitoring, and credit card freeze, even after experiencing online scams. Being a single parent was a protective factor for older individuals, but having a full-time job made older individuals more prone to experience online fraud victimization compared to being retired. In addition, older victims were less likely to report scams than younger ones. Although this research found significant differences between older and younger fraud victims' characteristics, target suitability and capable guardianship must be further investigated and conceptualized when applying routine activities theory for online fraud against older people.

Coping in the Digital Age: Do Coping Strategies Mediate the Link Between Online and In-Person Victimization and Depressive Symptoms?

With increased use of social networking sites in recent years, there has also been an increased opportunity for users to fall prey to bullying victimization. However, little is known about the differences between online and in-person victimization in association with depression or how different coping strategies may mediate this relationship among college students. The goal of the current study was to examine whether there were similarities or differences in the extent to which self-reported online and in-person victimization were associated with depressive symptoms in a sample of 210 undergraduate students (72.9% Women; 85.4% Cauasian), as well as whether different problem- and emotion-focused coping may differentially mediate the links between young adult victimization and depressive symptoms. Participants reported depressive symptoms, problem- and emotion-focused coping, and in-person and online victimization. In-person and online victimization independently predicted emotion-focused coping and depressive symptoms in young adults, and both problem- and emotion-focused coping predicted depressive symptoms. Further, emotion-focused coping partially mediated the effect of in-person victimization and depressive symptoms, suggesting that training more effective coping strategies may be an important intervention target to reduce depressive symptoms for those experiencing bullying victimization. Future research should continue to explore how different coping strategies act as a mechanism between victimization and depressive symptoms.

Cyber Risk and Impact of Cyber Crimes on User's Online Victimization

Data protection, information security and system security are often referred to as cyber security. So if you do some security research in general, you're likely to see these words very often: information security, data security, system security, cyber security, there are so many different names and terms that relate to a very deep technical point of almost the same thing. But at a very high level, there are really no variations, it's really one of the same stuff that you're all focusing on the same thing so that digital data is protected by cyber security.We are going to discuss different methodologies for network safety which will explain you personality and access managers. A vital device in information security is personality and access to the board. It shows the periods in which such data consents are permitted to different customers and in what settings. This encryption of information means that confidential data cannot be accessed by selected customers on selected occasions. The risk of infiltration and digital assaults is significantly reduced by personality and access to executives.Cyber security's primary aim is to prosecute offenders or protect data. Criminal investigations are discussed to obtain evidence of illegal conduct. In this situation, this is important for identifying the devices, computers, cell phones, etc. used in illegal activity and deciding if the suspect used these devices in the crime.In the result we have made a pilot study against worldwide cyber-attacks with their types has been consolidated in a range and then a solution has been suggested accordingly.

Violent Radicalization, Mental Health, and Gender Identity: Considerations for Future Research.

This study examines the association between gender identity, mental health, social adversity, and sympathy for violent radicalization (VR). Data were collected through an online survey in Canada. A total of 6003 eligible participants who were residents of Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, or Edmonton and aged from 18 to 35 years were included. We used Fisher exact test to assess gender differences in gender-based discrimination and we used analysis of variance tests to assess differences in scores on bullying, mental health, and sympathy for VR. We used linear regression to assess the relationship between mental health, social adversities, and sympathy for VR. Individuals who self-identified as trans and gender diverse had greater sympathy for VR than females did, experienced online victimization more frequently, and reported higher levels of psychological distress than both male and female participants. Our findings indicate that more research is needed on the association between social adversity and support for VR among this vulnerable population.

Gene-environment correlations and genetic confounding underlying the association between media use and mental health

The increase in online media use and mental health problems have prompted investigations into their association, although most literature is focussed on deleterious effects. We assessed the aetiology of media use and mental health associations (M age = 22.14, SD = 0.85) using twin (n = 4000 pairs) and polygenic score methods (n = 6000 unrelated individuals) in the Twins Early Development Study. Beyond the traditionally explored negative uses of online media (online victimisation and problematic internet use), we investigate general media uses such as posting online and watching videos and distinguish both positive (pro-social behaviour) and negative (anxiety, depression, peer and behaviour problems) mental health measures. Negative media use correlated with poor mental health (r = 0.11–0.32), but general media use correlated with prosocial behaviour (r = 0.20) and fewer behavioural problems (r = − 0.24). Twin analyses showed that both general and negative media use were moderately heritable (ranging from 20 to 49%) and their associations with mental health were primarily due to genetic influences (44–88%). Genetic sensitivity analysis combining polygenic scores with heritability estimates also suggest genetic confounding. Results indicate research on the mental health impact of media use should adopt genetically informed designs to strengthen causal inference.

Are Perceived Executive Functions Beneficial for Adolescents Who Experience Peer Victimization?

Peer victimization can lead to dysfunctional cognitions and numerous internalizing psychological problems. Thus, it is essential to identify factors that can moderate the impact of victimization. This study aimed to analyze the potential moderating role of perceived executive functions (PEF) in the impact of peer victimization (traditional and online) on internalizing symptoms (depression and social anxiety), early maladaptive schemas (disconnection/rejection domain), and PEF in adolescents. A two-wave longitudinal study was carried out with 680 Spanish adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age (M = 14.58, SD = 1.36; 41.18% girls). Participants completed measures of self-reported executive functions, traditional and online victimization, early maladaptive schemas of the disconnection/rejection domain, depressive symptoms, and social anxiety symptoms in waves 1 and 2. Traditional and online perpetration was completed only in wave 1. The results indicated that when PEF were high (i.e., adolescents perceive that they have good executive functions), traditional and online victimization predicted more schemas of the disconnection/rejection domain and internalizing symptoms of depression and social anxiety. In non-victims, high PEF showed a protective role in the development of depressive symptoms and schemas of the disconnection/rejection domain. The findings highlight that PEF have a protective role that disappears when victimization (traditional and online) occurs.

In 2020, Black Youth Experienced More Racial Discrimination Online

In 2020, Black Youth Experienced More Racial Discrimination Online

Co-occurrence of online and offline bullying and sexual harassment among youth in Sweden: Implications for studies on victimization and health a short communication

ABSTRACT Studies of co-occurrence of online and offline victimisation of bullying and sexual harassment and its associations to mental health outcomes among youth are scarce. To inform future study designs, the aim of this brief communication was to map co-occurrence of online and offline bullying and sexual harassment victimisation among adolescents. Data were collected in 2011 in nine schools in Northern Sweden, n = 1193 (boys = 566; girls = 627). Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated to find combinations of victimisation: one, two, three, or four forms. Reflecting a picture of the early days of online victimisation, in total fifty seven percent (57%) of adolescents were victimised. Single occurrence victimisation was 21.2% (offline sexual harassment was most common irrespective of gender), showing that most youths were victimised in a co-occurrence of two or more forms. Seven percent (7%) were victimised by all four forms of victimisation. Offline sexual harassment victimisation was present in the most common co-occurrences. Directions for future studies of victimisation and its associations to mental health outcomes are discussed.