Statistics Canada Study on Cybervictimization of Youth and Young Adults

Statistics Canada has published a study called Online harms faced by youth and young adults: The prevalence and nature of cybervictimization.

The document looks at the prevalence and nature of cyberbullying and cybervictimization among young people aged 12 to 29 years.

It found that in 2019, one in four youth (25%) aged 12 to 17 years reported experiencing cyberbullying in the previous year. 

An equal share (25%) of young adults aged 18 to 29 years also experienced some form of cybervictimization in 2018, with receiving unwanted sexually suggestive or explicit messages and aggressive or threatening emails, social media or text messages being among the most common.

Among the highlights:

• Some young people are more vulnerable to cybervictimization, including Indigenous youth, sexually diverse and non-binary youth, youth with a disability, and girls and women. 
• Cybervictimization increases during adolescence and remains high among young adults in their early 20s. It then tapers off in the late 20s.
• Increased internet usage, as well as using smart phones before bed and upon waking, are associated with an increased risk of being cyberbullied.
• For youth aged 12 to 17, not using devices at mealtime, having parents who often know what their teens are doing online, and having less difficulty making friends act as potential buffers against cybervictimization.
• Cybervictimized young adults often change their behaviour, both online—from blocking people and restricting their own access—and offline—such as carrying something for protection.
• Cybervictimized young adults were also more likely to have experienced other forms of victimization such as being stalked and being physically or sexually assaulted.