Survey results for children’s internet habits launched on Safer Internet Day 2022

One in four children has received personal photos of others and has been harassed online, while one in two chats with strangers and makes friends online. One in four children has encountered hate speech on the internet and one in nine children has fallen victim to cyber fraud. According to the findings of a recent survey in Greece, children and young people do not seem to hesitate to block someone or something that has upset them on the internet, but they do not proceed so easily to make a report.

On the occasion of Safer Internet Day (SID) 2022, which took place on Tuesday, 8 February, the Greek Safer Internet Centre (SIC) of FORTH under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Religions, revealed the results of recent research regarding the internet habits of children. The study was conducted in November-December 2021 and surveyed 5,000 students aged 12-18 years.

The Greek Safer Internet Centre has conducted a survey on a sample of 5,000 students in the academic year 2021-2022. Pupils were aged 12-18 years, 29% were from high school and 71% from junior high school. 77% came from a city as opposed to a village (23%). 48% of the surveyees were boys, while girls were 52%.

According to the results, the practice of exchanging very personal photos (sexting) is widespread among teenagers as 1 in 4 has received someone else's personal photos, and 6 per cent admit that they have sent personal photos.

Survey results for "Have you received intimate photos of others online?" with 76 per cent stating "No" and 24 per cent stating "Yes". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre Survey results for "Have you sent intimate photos to someone online?" with 94 per cent stating "No" and 6 per cent stating "Yes". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

This trend, combined with the fact that young people are not very interested in how their online reputation is shaped by what they post on the internet, is worrying. Online reputation does not concern 53 per cent of children, and in addition 23 per cent answered: "I do not know".

Survey results for "Are you worried about how your online reputation will be shaped by what you upload, post, like, etc.?" with 25 per cent stating "Yes", 53 per cent stating "No" and 22 per cent stating "I don't know". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Another trend that seems to be gaining ground in recent years is the emergence of hate speech on the internet. 34 per cent of children say they have encountered online hate speech.

Survey results for "Have you ever encountered hate speech on the internet?" with 34 per cent stating "Yes", 48 per cent stating "No" and 19 per cent stating "I have not thought of it". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Regarding cyberbullying, 6 per cent state that they have been the victim of cyberbullying, with girls outnumbering boys, and 13 per cent have witnessed bullying. Of the children who have noticed a friend/acquaintance being bullied, the encouraging thing is that the majority did not ignore but tried to support the victim privately. Still, only a small percentage turned to an adult.

Survey results to the question "Have you ever been a victim of cyberbullying?" with 6 per cent "Yes", 87 per cent "No" and 7% "I am not sure". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre Survey results for "If so, how did you react when you faced cyberbullying?" with 35 per cent stating "I asked an adult for support", 34 per cent stating "I was patient" and 31 per cent other answers. Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Survey results for the question "Have you ever been a victim of cyberbullying?" with 64 per cent girls stating "Yes", compared to 36 per cent of the boys. Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Survey results for the question "If so, how did you react when you witnessed cyberbullying?" with 13 per cent stating "Other", 15 per cent stating "I talked to an adult", 19 per cent stating "I did nothing because tried not to get involved" and 53 per cent stating "I tried to privately support the victim". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Despite the fact that children consider the disclosure of personal data and contact with strangers the two biggest dangers on the internet, at the same time, one in two children chat with strangers and make friends online.

Survey results to the question "Have you expanded your circle of friends with people you met online (via social media or games)?" with 46 per cent stating "Yes" and 54 per cent stating "No". Among the yeses, 47 per cent were girls and 53 per cent were boys. Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

One in four children states that, at some point, someone approached them on the internet with malicious intent. Of these, 3 per cent chatted with them to see their intentions.

Survey results to "Has anyone ever tried to reach you maliciously online (via social media or games)?" with 25 per cent stating "Yes" and 75 per cent stating "No". Out of the yeses, 63 per cent were girls and 37 per cent were boys. Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre Survey results for the question "If so, how did you react when approached?" with 57 per cent stating "Block/report", 22 per cent stating "I was indifferent", 13 per cent stating "I caught a conversation with him to see what he wants", 4 per cent stating "I told an adult" and 4 per cent other. Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

According to the survey findings, children and young people do not seem to hesitate to block someone or something that has upset them on the internet, but they do not proceed so easily to make a report.

Survey results for the question "Have you ever blocked someone through the tools available on social networks on in games?" with 71 per cent stating "Yes", 27 per cent stating "No" and 2 per cent stating "I would like to, but I do not know how". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Survey results for the question "Have you ever reported someone or something through the tools available on social media or in games?" with 46 per cent stating "Yes", 53 per cent stating "No" and 2 per cent stating "I would like to but I do not know how". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre Survey results to the question "Have you reported someone or something through the tools available on social media or in games (by gender)?" with 43 per cent girls and 57 per cent boys stating "Yes" and 69 per cent girls and 31 per cent boys stating "No". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre

Another point that should be emphasised is that if something happens on the internet, 62 per cent of children will ask for help from their parents, 21 per cent from a friend, and 13 per cent will deal with it alone without asking for help. Only 4 per cent will address the issue to an educator.

Survey results for the question "If something/someone upsets you on the internet, who will you ask for help?" with 13 per cent stating "No one", 4 per cent stating "An educator", 21 per cent stating "A friend" and 62 per cent stating "My parents". Credits: Greek Safer Internet Centre.

Lastly, read the following infographic summarising the survey results. You can also download the infographic here.

Find out more about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services – or find similar information for Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.

Find out more about the annual global celebration of Safer Internet Day more generally here.

Greek Safer Internet Centre
18 February 2022
media literacy education
individual (general interest), research