e-Safer Suffolk Cybersurvey 2012

Investigating the experience of cyberbullying and cyberabuse in Suffolk

e-Safer Suffolk working in partnership with UCS has released the details of the second Suffolk Cybersurvey. Focusing on online rights and responsibilities, the study undertaken between September and November in 2012 based on an online questionnaire, administered by Youthworks Consulting Ltd, and analysed by UCS, examined the responses of 2,838 young people in Suffolk. Highlights from the survey include:

  • The reported incidence of cyberbullying has remained stable with 19% of children and young people identifying them as cyberbullied (lower than the national average).
  • The study found that girls are more likely to experience cyberbullying than boys and are more likely to report being upset by the experience.
  • Boys are slightly more likely than girls, however, to experience homophobic cyberbullying.
  • Young people with a disability are much more likely to be bullied.
  • Only 52% of young people in Suffolk who have been cyberbullied are seeking help to stop it.

Download - the complete 2012 cybersurvey report.

Lorna Jackson, Suffolk e-Safety Lead Officer, said: “The response to the cybersurvey this year has been phenomenal and tells us categorically that our children and young people, whilst they enjoy using the internet and new technological devices, are at risk of threats that we, as adults often find difficult to comprehend. What is clear is that those that care for or work with our most vulnerable groups do need to get to grips with the risks not just for these groups but to themselves, as professionals."

In response to this and other findings from the survey, over the coming year e-Safer Suffolk will be focusing on:

  • A qualitative research study with our disabled children to find out more about their experience of bullying and e-safety issues to focus our work.
  • Developing a number of e-safety peer ambassadors to deliver e-safety training, peer mentoring and facilitating learning events as well as to help develop and communicate key messages to local communities.
  • Offering a rolling apprenticeship placement opportunity to care leavers who might have an interest in helping the strategy group in all aspects of its work.
  • Developing an education training package for use with children and young people at risk of offending or as a community resolution route due to inappropriate use of technology. 

Cybersurvey press release on the UCS website.