Statistics Canada has released a new report on the internet use of Canadians between the ages of 15 and 29.
According to their data, 17% of Internet users in this age group said they had been victims of cyberstalking or cyberbullying in the previous five years.
This was Statistics Canada’s first study of its type to examine cyberbullying and cyberstalking among youth, and their relationship behaviour and mental health.
Cyberbullying was classified to include threatening or aggressive emails or instant messages, threatening or aggressive comments spread via the Internet, embarrassing or threatening pictures online, or using someone else's identity to send out or post embarrassing or threatening information.
Cyberstalking included being the subject of repeated and unwanted attention that caused them to fear for their safety as a result of unwanted messages or pictures shared electronically.
Of young Internet users 15 to 29 who experienced at least one of these forms of online victimization, 36% were cyberbullied, 33% were cyberstalked and 31% experienced both.
Younger Canadians were more likely to face internet victimization. For instance, of those 15 to 20, about one in five experienced cyberstalking, cyberbullying or both, compared with 15% of those aged 27 to 29
The young homosexual and bisexual population was more likely to face internet victimization as well. More than one-third were cyberbullied or cyberstalked, compared with 15% of the heterosexual population.
Among young Canadians who experienced a physical or sexual assault before the age of 15, 31% reported having been cyberbullied or cyberstalked, compared with 13% for those who did not experience assault.
Cyberbullying and cyberstalking are associated with an increased probability of reporting a mental health condition and having a low level of trust, particularly among those who experienced both types of online victimization.
Over 40% of young Internet users who experienced both cyberbullying and cyberstalking reported an emotional, psychological or mental health condition.
The same amount said they had a low level of trust in people from work or school.
More than one-quarter of those who had been cyber stalked to protect themselves from crime in the past year, such as changing their routine, installing new locks or burglar alarms, or taking a self-defence course.
