Microsoft Survey Identifies The Real-World Consequences Of Today’s Online Safety Risks

Today on Safer Internet Day (SID), Microsoft is challenging people around the world to embrace “digital civility” and treat each other with respect and dignity, online.

As a 16-year SID participant, Microsoft is rallying global consumers to take the Digital Civility Challenge and learn about online safety risks in its latest Digital Civility Index. Microsoft’s Index is based on a survey completed in May 2019 to gauge the attitudes and perceptions of teens (ages 13-17) and adults (ages 18-74) in 25 countries about the state of digital civility today.

It asked questions like, “which online risks have you and your close circle experienced, when and how often have the risks occurred, and what consequences and actions were taken?” — and it measured respondents’ lifetime exposure to 21 online risks across four areas: behavioral, reputational, sexual and personal/intrusive.

Microsoft’s Digital Civility Index reveals exposure to online risks was up significantly. The survey looked at 21 risks, with the top 5 risks in India being:

1.      unwanted contact (40%)

2.      unwanted sexting (26%)

3.      hate speech (23%)

4.      trolling (21%)

5.      being treated meanly (20%)

With the availability of the Challenge and Index data, Microsoft hopes policymakers, companies, and consumers will consider the need for a safer, more respectful internet and leverage the evidentiary base for a global push toward “digital civility.”

Speaking about this in a blogpost, Jacqueline Beauchere - Global Digital Safety Advocate, Microsoft talks about how through this study, Microsoft asked respondents to share their “2020s vision,” and select three words to best describe what they hope will define online experiences and digital interactions in the coming decade. In her blog, she says that “Respect” was by far the preferred option (66%), followed by “safety” (57%), “freedom” (33%), “civility” (32%) and “kindness” (26%). She also highlighted the four common-sense principles for safer, healthier and more respectful online interactions:

1.      Live the Golden Rule

2.      Respect differences

3.      Pause before replying

4.      Stand up for yourself and others

For more information follow the below given link :

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/02/10/digital-civility-lowest/