Harassment on social networks: you are not dreaming, more than 2 out of 10 French people are victims of it!

Many French people admit to having already been victims of harassment on social networks, among other risks and pitfalls to be apprehended or thwarted.

Just a few days after the adoption of digital majority, which requires social networks to obtain parental consent so that children under 15 can register, the Cetelem Observatory published, on Monday July 10, a new survey on harassment on the various platforms. If many French people are victims of it, it is the 25-34 year olds who declare, in worrying proportions, to have already paid the price.

Cyberbullying, a scourge that does not only affect teenagers

On social networks, the risks are well known: hacking and the violation of privacy are the two most feared by the French (at 49 and 48% respectively). But harassment is not far behind and even makes it onto the social media misdeeds podium, cited by 46% of respondents.

Harassment is perceived, experienced or even recognized differently depending on the age. Cyberbullying, which does not spare the youngest, is unsurprisingly the first threat mentioned among 15-24 year olds, 50% of whom mention it immediately, far ahead of the violation of privacy (39%), the data hacking and addiction (36%).

A serious problem, for 9 out of 10 French people

More generally, 23% of respondents indicate that they have already been victims of cyberbullying, i.e. more than 1 in 5 French people. A very large proportion of the population, which even reaches 37% among 25-34 year olds. Respondents from this age group are even 90% to see harassment on social networks as a serious problem, which can affect everyone without distinction.

Flavier Neuvy, director of the Cetelem Observatory, commented on these results. ” We note a hierarchy of risks linked to the use of social networks that differs according to the generations. Nevertheless, all French people find themselves on the problem of online harassment, which has made the news again recently. Faced with these dramatic consequences, they are calling for increased regulation of platforms, to protect users. “.