Risky Internet Research Articles

Examination of Cyberbullying Experiences of Social Media Users.

This study was carried out in a descriptive and cross-sectional design in order to examine the cyberbullying experiences of individuals using social media. This descriptive study was conducted online between June 16, 2022, and August 16, 2022, in Turkey. The data collection process was completed with 471 participants. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Cyberbullying Triangulation Questionnaire. The mean questionnaire score was found to be 7.36 ± 6.99. Cyberbully, cybervictim, and cyberbystander scores of men were found to be higher than those of women. Also, cybervictim, cyberbully, and cyberbystander scores of those who experienced cybervictim or engaged in cyberbully were significantly higher (p < .05). A positive relationship was found between cyberbully and cybervictim (p = .000), between cyberbystander and cybervictim and cyberbully (p < .05), and between the Cyberbullying Triangulation Questionnaire total scores and cybervictim, cyberbully, and cyberbystander (p < .05). Individuals should be given training on risky internet use and the correct use of technology to prevent cyberbullying. Families should also be supported in setting an example, setting rules, applying filtering software, determining online behavior rules, and communicating with the bully or victim child. Individuals should be informed about the steps to follow when exposed to cyberbullying. Although legal sanctions are effective on cyberbullying, it is recommended that a holistic study be planned and carried out according to the people's age group and development level to increase awareness about the phenomenon.

Bias-Based Cyberaggression Related To Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Weight: Systematic Review of Young People's Experiences, Risk and Protective Factors, and the Consequences.

Bias-based cyberaggression-hateful and bias-based content and interactions via information and communication technologies-is a frequent experience for young internet users that can result in detrimental consequences for both individuals and society. Ample research has focused on the factors related to involvement in bias-based cyberaggression. This study systematically reviews the research published in the past decade about the investigations into exposure, vicarious and direct victimization, and aggression among young people (up to age 30). We aimed to provide a complex summarization of the research findings about the risk and protective factors and the consequences of experiences with bias-based cyberaggression-specifically the diverse manifestations of bias-based cyberaggression targeted toward ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender, weight, and disability. Three academic databases (EBSCO, Scopus, and WoS) were searched and 41 articles were included in the review. The results show a dominant research focus on bias-based cyberaggression victimization and on the bias-based cyberaggression that targets ethnicity, race, nationality, and religion, leaving a gap in the knowledge about the different types of targeted group categories and bias-based cyberaggression perpetration. The identified risk factors for bias-based cyberaggression involvement included being a minority, low psychological well-being, other victimization experiences, higher internet use, and risky internet use. An overlap was found for bias-based cyberaggression involvement with other offline and online victimization experiences. This review showed limited knowledge about protective factors, namely the social-level and contextual factors. The identified factors, as well as the gaps in the knowledge, are discussed in relation to research implications and practice and policy implications.

Association Between Parental Problematic Internet Use and Adolescent Depression.

We examined the association between parental problematic internet use (PIU) and adolescent depression and whether this association varied based on internet-related rules. We recruited adolescents ages 13-18 and their parent using national Qualtrics panels (N = 4592 dyads). Measures included the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS-3), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the internet specific parenting practice scale (ISPPS). Parental PIU was associated with symptoms of adolescent depression, including suicidal ideation, even when controlling for adolescent PIU (β = 0.35, 95% CI [0.32, 0.38]). Time-related rules moderated this association in a non-linear way where the association was strongest when time-related rules were unclear / mid-range. The moderation effect was linear for content-related rules, where stricter rules were associated with a weaker association between parent PIU and adolescent depression. Results support clinicians assessing parent PIU when treating depressed adolescents and engaging parents in monitoring their adolescents' internet use content.

Influence of Risky Internet Use on Physical Activity and Academic Burnout among Undergraduate Students

Objectives: In this study, we investigate the correlations between Internet use risk, physical activity, and academic burnout among undergraduate students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 620 participants using tools like the Problematic and Risky Internet Usage Scale, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory Student version, and the Baecke tool. Results: Over two-thirds of participants had high risky Internet use, while about half had severe academic burnout. Most students had low physical activity levels, and males had a greater predisposition to the risk resulting from Internet addiction. There was a significant difference in academic burnout according to gender, with more academic burnout among males. Whereas both males and females had low physical activity levels, there was a statistically significant difference between their levels of physical activity. Conclusion: We recommend university decision-makers organize regular physical activities to prevent academic burnout and conduct workshops and lectures to highlight the value of physical activity.

Genetic Aspects of Problematic and Risky Internet Use in Young Men-Analysis of ANKK1, DRD2 and NTRK3 Gene Polymorphism.

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is characterized by an excess of uncontrolled preoccupations, urges, or behaviors related to computer use and Internet access that culminate in negative outcomes or individual distress. PIU includes excessive online activities (such as video gaming, social media use, streaming, pornography viewing, and shopping). The aim of this study was to analyze the association of gene polymorphisms that may influence the severity of risky behaviors in young men with the frequency of Internet use. We speculate that there are individual differences in the mechanisms of Internet addiction and that gene-hormone associations may represent useful biomarkers for subgroups of individuals. The study was conducted in a sample of 407 adult males. Subjects were asked to complete the Problematic Internet Use Test (PIUT). Serum was analyzed to determine concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TT), sex hormone binding protein (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), insulin (I), serotonin (5-HT), and dopamine (DA), as well as DRD2, ANKK1, and NTRK3 gene polymorphisms. In the analysis of the ANKK1 gene, there was a specific association between ANKK1 polymorphisms and PRL and 5-HT blood concentrations. There was also an association between the ANKK1 polymorphisms and LH and DA concentrations. When analyzing the DRD2 gene polymorphism, we found that in the group with a moderate level of Internet dependence, there was an association between both the G/GG and GG/GG polymorphisms and FSH concentration. Our study found that there may be an association between the NTRK3 gene polymorphism and PIU. The polymorphisms of ANKK1 and DRD2 genes may be factors that influence the concentrations of hormones (PRL, 5-HT, DA) that are associated with the results obtained in PIU.

Relationship of Risky Internet Use with Parental Depression and Anxiety in a Sample of Turkish Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Parental mental health has a significant impact on adolescent well-being, including their engagement in problematic behaviors such as risky internet use. However, limited research has examined the association between parental mental health and risky internet use (RIU) in adolescents, particularly those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To address this gap, this study investigated the relations between parental depression and anxiety symptoms and RIU in adolescents with ADHD. A sample of 100 participants (mean age = 13.6 years; 27% female) diagnosed with ADHD was included. Parental depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression and Beck Anxiety Inventories, while adolescents' RIU was measured using Young's Internet Addiction Scale. Participants with scores exceeding 50 on the scale were classified as having RIU. After controlling for adolescent gender, parental education levels, and income, the results revealed that both parental depressive (β = 0.09) and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.06) significantly predicted an elevated risk of RIU in adolescents with ADHD. These findings highlight the substantial role of parental depression and anxiety as risk factors for RIU in this population. Understanding these associations can inform the development of targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of parental mental health on adolescent RIU and promote better outcomes for individuals with ADHD.

Migration stress, risky Internet uses, and scam victimization: An empirical study among Chinese migrant workers

In China, Internet scams against migrant workers have grown increasingly prevalent. This study uses routine activity theory and uses and gratifications theory to investigate how migration stress affects susceptibility to risky internet use and scam-related outcomes among Chinese migrant workers. The present study utilized a survey of 543 migrant workers. Findings revealed that migration stress was a significant predictor of engaging in risky online leisure activities, risky online shopping, privacy disclosure, and a lack of protective measures. The failure to adopt protective behaviors and engagement in risky online leisure activities, online loaning, and privacy disclosure were also found to increase migrant workers’ exposure to scam information and victimization. Study results sheds light on the impact of migration stress on the online behavior of migrant workers in China and provides insights into protecting them from Internet scams. Our findings may inform the development of interventions aimed at preventing online scams against migrant workers and promoting safer Internet use.

Association Between Problematic Internet Use and Health Risks in Adolescents With and Without Chronic Health Conditions

Background. Sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are modifiable health risks that often develop during adolescence. A comprehensive analysis of unhealthy behaviors in adolescents with and without chronic health conditions (CHC) could inform the development of more effective prevention approaches.&#x0D; The aim. This study aimed to measure associations between Problematic Internet Use (PIU), lifestyle habits and subjective health complaints among adolescents with and without CHC. In addition, health behaviors and prevalence of subjective health complaints between adolescents with and without CHC were compared.&#x0D; Methods. A total of 171 adolescents (87 without CHC and 84 with CHC) completed an online survey. The PIU was assessed by the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale. The subjective health complaints assessed were somatic and psychological symptoms. Healthy lifestyle behaviors assessed were daily physical activities, time spent by screens, eating habits, and duration of sleep.&#x0D; Results. The results showed that 21.83% of adolescents with CHC and 36.78% without CHC scored at risk for problematic internet use. Adolescents without CHC reported significantly more frequent psychological health complaints than their peers with CHC. This study found that multiple health complaints and unhealthy eating habits were significantly associated with PIU in adolescents with CHC, while nervousness and eating fast food in adolescents without CHC. Girls without CHC reported significantly higher PRIUSS scores and prevalence of subjective health complaints than boys (p &lt;.05).&#x0D; Conclusions. Adolescents without CHC reported significantly higher levels of moderate and vigorous intensity physical activities weekly than their peers with CHC. PIU behaviors are mainly associated with psychological health complaints and unhealthy eating behaviors in adolescents with and without CHC. These findings highlight the need to identify the specific problematic internet use activities that are associated with different health risks in adolescents.&#x0D; Keywords: problematic internet use, chronic health conditions, lifestyle behaviors, health, adolescents.

Internet Use Disorders: Subjective Importance of Online Friends in the Context of Real-Life Social Support and Comorbid Mental Disorders

Introduction: Previous studies analyzing friendships with people only known through the Internet mainly focused on quantitative aspects (e.g., the number of online friends or the time spent with them). Little is known about the perceived quality of online compared to real-life friends in individuals with an Internet use disorder (IUD). This study aimed to analyze associations of the increased subjective importance of online friends and IUD by controlling for the perceived real-life social support and comorbid mental disorders. Methods: Based on a general population sample, 192 participants who were screened positive for risky Internet use took part in face-to-face clinical diagnostic interviews. IUD was assessed using the structure of the Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) and the adapted criteria of Internet gaming disorder in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The number and the increased subjective importance of online compared to real-life friends were assessed with the Online and Real-Life Friends scale (ORLF), real-life social support was assessed with the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), and comorbidity was assessed with the M-CIDI. Data were analyzed with binary regression models. Results: Of 192 participants with risky Internet use, 39 participants (19 men; age M = 29.9, SD = 12.2) fulfilled the criteria of IUD in the last 12 months. IUD was not associated with the number or perceived social support of online friends per se. In multivariate analyses, IUD was associated with increased subjective importance of online friends, independently from comorbid anxiety or mood disorders. However, when controlling for real-life social support, associations of IUD and increased subjective importance of online friends were no longer present. Conclusion: These findings highlight the necessity of therapeutic interventions aimed at strengthening social skills and engaging in real-life relationships in the prevention and therapy of IUD. Due to the small sample size and the cross-sectional analysis, however, further research is needed.

КОМПЕТЕНТНІСТЬ ДІТЕЙ З БЕЗПЕКИ В ІНТЕРНЕТІ ЯК ЧИННИК ПРОТИДІЇ РИЗИКАМ СЕКСУАЛЬНОГО НАСИЛЬСТВА

Background. The article presents the results of the second stage of research on the effectiveness of the educational campaign #stop_sexting concerning child safety in the digital environment. The research aims to explore the activities of 5th to 8th-grade pupils in the digital environment, their basic knowledge of security, including awareness of online communication risks, as well as their attitudes toward internet safety and behavior in risky situations. The primary research method used was a questionnaire, with results analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Methods. The research findings highlight the inconsistencies in children's perceptions of the internet and safety within the online sphere, along with their self assessed competency in this domain. The trend of increasing online engagement with age has been confirmed, and the primary activities of children on the internet elevate the potential for encountering risks, which they tend to underestimate. Only 11 % of the surveyed children do not have profiles on social media. Despite the fact that the majority of children express an understanding that anyone can become a victim on the internet, they generally perceive the internet as a safe environment. Results. The risk of encountering inappropriate content online or receiving proposals for intimate communication is of least concern to them. More than half of the respondents assess their own behavior as safe and assert that they possess knowledge on how to protect themselves on the internet. Simultaneously, an equal proportion of 7th to 8th-grade pupils are unfamiliar with concepts describing various forms of sexual violence on the internet. Children also underestimate the risks associated with age-based registration limits on social media, open access to personal profiles, sharing personal information, or posting personal photos, tending to perceive danger primarily in events related to establishing contacts with strangers on the internet. Сonclusions. The research has demonstrated the limited knowledge of protective measures in risky internet situations and the lack of experience in utilizing a broader range of protective actions, aside from blocking dangerous users. Key sources of information regarding safe internet behavior include parents or family members and thematic lessons within educational institutions. Parents and law enforcement agencies (police and cyber police) serve as sources of assistance in case of hazardous online situations. However, less than 40 % of the respondents perceive educators or the school's social-psychological service as entities capable of providing assistance in internet-related dangerous situations. The research finding can be valuable in developing preventive programs focused on online safety for school-age children.

A REVIEW ON THE IMPACT OF CYBERSECURITY CRIMES IN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts every aspect of our life, including how we connect with others in our professional and personal lives and how we structure our work in general. Quarantines and the deployment of social isolation measures caused an astronomical rise in cybersecurity offences in this region. As a result, using the risky Internet network to run every aspect of daily life necessitates complete and direct reliance on it, which increases the risk of cyberattacks, which increased in the financial sector during COVID-19. This paper analysed the cyber security crimes during the pandemic of COVID-19, highliting the different types of cybercrime that occurred worldwide. The mechanism of cybersecurity crimes campaigns was demonstrated by analysing and evaluating cyberattacks in the framework of worldwide events. The systematic review methodology was used in this paper to summarise, compare, and critically analyse the findings of about 60 researchers, articles, and numerous reports from government organisations, security companies, as well as the academic journals that looked into cybercrimes during COVID-19 or suggested solutions to combat them. The influence of the COVID pandemic on cybersecurity is also discussed in this study, with an emphasis on the financial sector and how cybercrimes increased compared to the period prior to the pandemic to a stage where four to five separate cyberattacks on particular days were reported.

Investigation of the relationship between internet addiction, communication skills and difficulties in emotion regulation in nursing students

This study investigates the relationships between nursing students' internet addiction levels, communication skills and difficulties in emotion regulation. This cross-sectional study included 463 nursing students who completed the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Communication Skills Scale (CSS) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16). Approximately half of the nursing students were risky internet users. A negative statistically significant was determined between from IAS and CSS; a positive statistically significant was determined between from IAS and DERS-16. It was found that internet addiction had an effect of 18.6 % (R2 = 0.186) on difficulty in emotion regulation and 0.27 % on communication skills (R2 = 0.027). The students who were in risky group in internet addiction had worse communication skills and higher levels of difficulties in emotion regulation.

Mobile Game Addiction and Social Interaction Anxiety of Malaysian Youth

With individuals of all ages confined to their homes for extended periods of time, the pandemic laid the groundwork for an upsurge in online mobile gaming addiction and risky internet usage. According to research, those who are hooked to online gaming are more likely to experience social interaction anxiety. This research is an additional attempt to confirm prior findings in the context of Malaysian youth. The data was acquired via an online questionnaire as part of the survey research procedure. The respondents were reached through convenient sampling, and the 377 replies provided more evidence on the association between gaming addiction and social interaction anxiety. Keywords: Mobile addiction, social anxiety, youth eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by E-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under the responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behavior Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioral Researchers on Asians), and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behavior Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

Problematic Internet Use and Technology Interactions Among Transgender Adolescents.

To compare risk of problematic internet use (PIU) and importance of digital media interactions for transgender and cisgender adolescents. A nationally representative group of adolescents took an online survey that included a measure of PIU (Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale-3 [PRIUSS-3]) and technology interactions (Adolescent Digital Technology Interactions and Importance scale). We compared mean scores for these scales and their subscales and rates of positive screens for PIU for transgender and cisgender adolescents. Of 4575 adolescents participating, 53 (1.2%) were transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse (TNG) adolescents. TNG adolescents had higher PRIUSS-3 scores and higher mean scores for importance of technology to explore identity/go outside their offline environment. TNG adolescents report higher PIU risk, which may relate to differences in technology importance for this group.

Использование интернета как фактор рискового поведения молодежи в условиях дистанционного обучения при Сovid-19

We selected Problematic Internet Use (PIU) as our research object. PIU is a behavioral addiction or a type of addictive behavior that can have negative influence on users’ emotional and social functioning. In our case, these users were students who had to learn distantly. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate use of the Internet by students and associated risks by performing the validated screening (Problematic Internet Use – PIU). The first stage was accomplished under routine full-time education; the second stage took place during the COVID-19 pandemic under the forced lockdown in the spring term 2020. Medical students who participated in this pilot study were asked to estimate how much time they spent using the Internet on their mobile devices or PC and to report risks associated with problematic Internet use, both under ordinary circumstances and under forced self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening – PRIUSS, Midwestern University, USA, both paper version and Google survey, to question the participants. Overall, 230 students took part at the first stage of the survey; one year after there were 90 students participating in the survey. The research results show it is truly vital to examine risky behavior since it can pose certain threats for young students’ health due to growing volumes and shares of information obtained from information network channels and Internet resources. In addition, we established an increasing share of risky behavior when using the Internet under restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a substantial growth in the number of students exposed to the intensive Internet use. The scores as per the subscales “social disorders” and “emotional disorders” grew by 2.7 and 2.1 times accordingly. The score describing risky/impulsive Internet use went up from 7.8 to 16.3. All the differences were statistically significant (р &lt; 0.001).

Problematic internet use as youth’s risky behavior under distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

We selected Problematic Internet Use (PIU) as our research object. PIU is a behavioral addiction or a type of addictive behavior that can have negative influence on users’ emotional and social functioning. In our case, these users were students who had to learn distantly. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate use of the Internet by students and associated risks by performing the validated screening (Problematic Internet Use – PIU). The first stage was accomplished under routine full-time education; the second stage took place during the COVID-19 pandemic under the forced lockdown in the spring term 2020. Medical students who participated in this pilot study were asked to estimate how much time they spent using the Internet on their mobile devices or PC and to report risks associated with problematic Internet use, both under ordinary circumstances and under forced self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening – PRIUSS, Midwestern University, USA, both paper version and Google survey, to question the participants. Overall, 230 students took part at the first stage of the survey; one year after there were 90 students participating in the survey. The research results show it is truly vital to examine risky behavior since it can pose certain threats for young students’ health due to growing volumes and shares of information obtained from information network channels and Internet resources. In addition, we established an increasing share of risky behavior when using the Internet under restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a substantial growth in the number of students exposed to the intensive Internet use. The scores as per the subscales “social disorders” and “emotional disorders” grew by 2.7 and 2.1 times accordingly. The score describing risky/impulsive Internet use went up from 7.8 to 16.3. All the differences were statistically significant (р &lt; 0.001).

A Trying Time: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and its association with depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundThe prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents and young adults (AYA) was approximately 9–11% before the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of PIU among AYAs (especially younger adolescents) during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS). Additionally, we examined the relationship between PIU, depression and anxiety among AYAs during the same period.MethodsA descriptive-analysis survey study was completed over a 6-month period from January 4, 2021, to June 30, 2021. It was conducted at a tertiary care Adolescent Medicine Clinic with AYAs age 12–21. The PRIUSS screened for PIU, the PHQ-9A [Patient Health Questionnaire-9A] screened for depression, and the GAD-7 [General Anxiety Disorder-7] screened for generalized anxiety. Fisher’s exact test, the Mann–Whitney test and Spearman correlations were performed.ResultsA positive PRIUSS score was observed in 18% of the 447 participants. Of these participants, 44% had a pre-existing diagnosis of depression, 39% had a pre-existing diagnosis of anxiety and 29% had a pre-existing diagnosis of depression and anxiety. There was a positive correlation between PRIUSS, PHQ-9A and GAD-7 total scores. A higher PRIUSS score was associated with a higher PHQ-9A and GAD-7 score (p < 0.001). There was also a positive correlation between a positive PRIUSS score and a pre-existing diagnosis of depression (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study showed a higher prevalence of PIU during the COVID-19 pandemic using the PRIUSS. In addition, a positive correlation between PRIUSS scores and pre-existing diagnosis of depression, positive GAD-7 and PHQ-9A scores was noted. In conclusion, medical providers should consider screening for PIU in AYAs with positive mental health screens.

Cyber-security and risky behaviors in a developing country context: a Pakistani perspective

Cyber-security behavior research is scant with even scarce studies carried out in developing countries. We examine the cyber-security and risky Internet behaviors of undergraduate students from Pakistan, taking into account the diversity of these students in terms of demographics, socioeconomic status, and the digital divide. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire. A total of 294 students belonging to six different cities of Pakistan were surveyed employing multistage stratified sampling in face-to-face interaction. The results indicated significant differences of cyber-security posture in terms of gender, age and digital divide variables. The profiles of students based on cyber-security and risky Internet behaviors indicate three groups with a majority of them falling into group that exhibits more risk-averse yet low cyber-security behavior. Moreover, proactive cyber-security awareness behavior has a positive impact on high risk-averse behavior. The implications of the findings are studied in terms of providing customized training and awareness. The future directions are laid out for further explorations in terms of cultural differences within and cross-country contexts.

136. A trying time: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and its Association With Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is defined as uncontrollable internet use associated with psychosocial or functional impairment that is not due to a primary psychiatric diagnosis. PIU has been measured using different screening tools such as the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire (YDQ) for Internet Addiction or the Internet Addiction Tool (IAT) and the pre-pandemic prevalence has been variable at 0-26.3%. The prevalence using the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS) is estimated at 9-11.1% in American college-aged students.

Internet risky behaviours among youth with visual impairment

Background Young individuals with visual impairment (VI), exposed to higher risky of social exclusion, might be more prone to Internet risky behaviours including electronic aggression. Objective Different types of Internet risky behaviours and the average time spent online were investigated among students with VI. These behaviours were analyzed for the relationship with witnessing, perpetrating and becoming a victim of electronic aggression. Methods A total of 490 special needs school students with VI answered a self-administered questionnaire. The average time spent online, different types of risky Internet activities and electronic aggression were recorded, as well as sociodemographic characteristics. Results Male students downloaded software illegally, hacked, published and viewed sites with sexual content, and gambled online statistically more often than female counterparts. Concerning electronic aggression, more than half of participants were engaged as witnesses, every fifth student as a victim and 11.6% as perpetrators. Two sets of ordinal logistic regression analyses have shown that communication with a person promoting violence and an excessive amount of time spent online during weekends predicted significantly the risk of witnessing and being a victim of electronic aggression. Additionally, communicating with a person promoting violence and an excessive amount of time spent online during schooldays were associated with increased odds for engagement in electronic aggression as a perpetrator. Conclusions Population with VI is prone to risky Internet use and likely to be engaged in electronic aggression. New instruments and preventive strategies need to be developed, as well as diagnostic tools tailored specifically to the needs of young people with VI.