Global Online Safety Survey 2023: Worldwide

Parents’ and kids’ perceptions of online safety

69% of respondents across Wide range across the globe of users

16 countries reported who experienced an online risk
experiencing a risk in

42%
the past year Highest

of people became
86% less trusting
PHILIPPINES

Lowest

50%
UNITED KINGDOM

What are the risks?

51% 42% 39%

Misinformation Personal Violent Content
& Disinformation
35% Hate speech 28% Real world graphic
The single most prevalent risk 20% Cyberbullying, violence & gore
reported was misinformation harassment, abuse 12% Terrorist & violent
or disinformation 16% Threats of violence extremist content

25% 15%
Sexual Self Harm
16% Sexual solicitation 15% Suicide and self
11% Release of intimate images harm content
without your consent
9% Child sexual exploitation &
abuse

Parents of teens underestimated every risk

their teenager might have been exposed to
Personal risks 37% 50%
Parental expectations of
teen’s risk experience
Hate speech 29% 39%

Actual teen’s
Threats of violence 11%
risk experience 19%

Misinformation, disinformation 45% 52%

Differences between teen boys’ & girls’ risk

experiences and worries
Boys experience more: Girls experience more:

Terrorist, extremist Sexual solicitation

content 19% vs 14%
15% vs 12%
Suicide & self harm
Real-world graphic content
violence 20% vs 16%
31% vs 30%
Girls worry more about:
Boys worry more about:
Sexual risks
Violent content risks 63% vs 49%
29% vs 23%
Terrorist, extremist Sexual solicitation
content 27% vs 16%
17% vs 11%

More risks for LGBTQ+ population

80%of LGBTQ+ experienced a risk All risks were higher for LGBTQ+ respondents

Biggest gaps:

31% 13% NON-LGBTQ+

Sexual solicitation

29% 13% NON-LGBTQ+

Suicide & self harm content

How are parents keeping children safe?

91% 81%
of parents took at least of parents used at least
one child safety action one parental safety tool

3.2
average number of safety
tools used by parents

TOP SAFETY TOOLS USED BY PARENTS

1. My children have child-specific 2. I set up safe search on my 3. I use parental device-level

accounts on apps or other children's browsers to block controls that sets limits on
online services they use explicit content the digital devices they
use
TOP CHILD SAFETY ACTIONS

1. I set screen-time limits for 2. My children need my 3. I regularly review games,

online usage approval before they apps, and social media sites
purchase, download or before they are used by my
install anything children

Teens are taking actions to protect their safety

How do teens protect themselves?

61 %
of parents of teens
#1
I set up my account so
only people who I approved
56%
can message me.
don’t think safety
tools are necessary

49%
(Base: parents who hadn’t setup a tool yet)
I use private accounts (so only
#2
60%
people who you approve can
access your content)

of teens tell
someone after
I use content filtering to 39%
experiencing a risk
#3 limit and block inappropriate
content
70%
told their parents

The methodology used to gather the data consisted of a web survey of teens, parents of 6-17 year olds, and other adults in 16 countries from August 17-September 27, 2022.
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