Concern over young people seeing ‘real life’ violence online

MORE than half of young people aged 13 to 17 have seen real-life violence on social media in the past 12 months including fighting, threats and sexual assaults, research suggests.

However, those in the South West region had the lowest proportion who had witnessed online violence.

A survey carried out on behalf of the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) found that 55% of those young people asked had seen violent content online, and nearly a quarter (24%) had seen another child carrying a weapon online.

The poll of 2,025 teenagers about their experiences of violence revealed that 14% had skipped school because they feared being a victim of violence, while 65% had altered their behaviour, appearance or where they went to keep themselves safe.

Jon Yates, executive director of the YEF said: “Far too many of our children are being exposed to real-life, violent content on social media. This matters.

“Children tell us that their fear of violence leads them to skip school, lose sleep and miss out on the fun moments that make up childhood.

“It doesn’t have to be like this. Social media companies need to do much more to keep children safe online.”

About two thirds of the children surveyed, 1,377 out of 2,025, answered a question about committing violence themselves. Just under a fifth, 19%, of those who answered the question said they had committed violence themselves in the past year, mostly kicking, hitting or shoving someone else.

The proportion of children who had seen real-life violence online varied by region. Overall, 55% of those asked had seen violent content online, rising to 60% in the North West, North East and London; and dropping to 44% in the South West.

The most common forms of violence were fights (44%) and threats to beat someone up (33%), but 13% had seen sexual assaults and 24% saw someone carrying a weapon.

Fatoumata Bayo Diba, 19, a member of the YEF Youth Advisory Board, said: “Unfortunately, I was not surprised by most of the report’s findings, especially when it comes to children being exposed to violence through social media. I’ve got younger siblings.

“It worries me how accessible this type of content can be to them. What worries me the most is that seeing violence everywhere you go has become the norm. People and especially children are desensitised to the horror that circulates around.”

The YEF funds schemes to stop children and young people being affected by violence, as well as research into the most effective ways to do so.

‘Far too many of our children are being exposed to real-life, violent content on social media’

JON YATES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH ENDOWMENT FUND