INDIA RANKS 7TH IN INTERNET CIVILITY

Online trolling in India has declined year-on-year points below the global average. Microsoft conducted a research study among teens and adults to measure the level of civility online.

The study revealed that more than 64 per cent of Indians stood up for themselves, when confronted with online risks. In comparison only 27 per cent respondents stood up for others in a similar situations.

India ranked seventh among the 23 countries in civility safety and interactions online. For 2016, India surveyed with a Digital Civility Index (DCI) of 63 per cent, which was lower than the global average of 65 per cent. For 2017, India ranks seventh with a DCI of 61per cent, two points lower than 2016.

Males reported higher levels of harassment online than females. However, the consequence of such harassments was more among females than males. Almost three in 10 Indians experienced a sexual risk online, including unwanted sexting, in 2017.

Victims of online abuse noted that their experiences involved their immediate families or people from their social circles. People who met their perpetrators in real life showed higher loss of trust and sleep as compared to those who had not. On the Safer Internet Day, Microsoft asked people to practise civil behaviour for safer online interactions by being more empathetic, compassionate, and kind.

ALMOST THREE IN 10 Indians experienced a sexual risk online, including unwanted sexting, in 2017.