Survey Unveils that 40% of Women Experience or Observe Sexual Harassment on Social Media Platforms…
Key Findings:
A noteworthy 20.8% of women have directly encountered sexual harassment on social media. Approximately 39.7% of women have either experienced or witnessed sexual harassment on social media. Among female social media users who faced sexual harassment, 57% reported the incidents occurring on Facebook and Facebook Messenger. Unwelcome messages and/or sexual comments accounted for 79% of the reported instances of sexual harassment on social media. An overwhelming 68.2% of the surveyed women who use social media believe that social media companies are not doing enough to safeguard individuals.
Introduction & Purpose of the Survey
SellCell, a prominent online mobile phone price comparison site, conducted a comprehensive survey on the topic of online sexual harassment of women on social media. Carried out by OnePoll on behalf of SellCell, the survey aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual harassment experienced or witnessed by women on social media platforms.
Main Findings
(Kindly note that the survey questions and answers contain sensitive content)
Out of the 3,000 UK women who actively use social media and participated in the survey, 40% disclosed experiencing or observing sexual harassment on social media platforms or apps. Among the 3,000 respondents, 21% reported personally encountering sexual harassment on social media platforms or apps. Of the 624 respondents who had experienced sexual harassment on social media, 57% stated that the incidents transpired on Facebook or Facebook Messenger. Around 79% of those who experienced harassment online mentioned receiving unwelcome sexual comments or messages. Approximately 76% of the women who encountered sexual harassment on social platforms or apps took action by blocking the offenders. For 32% of the victims of social media sexual harassment, the long-term effects included feelings of violation and/or intimidation. Among the 2,342 women who had not experienced sexual harassment via social media, the majority (69%) attributed it to their careful selection of whom to follow or accept friend requests from. A significant 68.2% of the 3,000 surveyed female social media users concur that social media platforms do not adequately protect people from online sexual harassment.
Summary of Survey Questions
SellCell and OnePoll presented the following questions to 3,000 UK women who actively use social media, inquiring about their encounters with sexual harassment on social media platforms or apps. Please be advised that some questions and answers contain sensitive and/or sexual content.
Question 1) Which of the following statements best describes your experience of sexual harassment through a social media platform/app?
The survey questioned 3,000 UK women who engage with social media, seeking to understand their experience of sexual harassment through social media platforms/apps. Out of the respondents, 39.7% (1,190) disclosed either personally experiencing sexual harassment or witnessing such incidents on social media platforms or apps. Within the 3,000 respondents, 20.8% (624) reported personally encountering sexual harassment on a social platform or application. This indicates that 79.2% of the respondents have never personally experienced sexual harassment while using a social media platform or app. Question 2) (If you have never personally experienced sexual harassment through a social media platform or application) Why do you think you have avoided personally experiencing sexual harassment on social media? [Select all that apply]
Regarding this question, 69% (1,605) of the 2,342 women who had not personally experienced social media sexual harassment attributed it to their careful selection of whom to follow or accept friend requests from. 42% of the respondents keep their social media accounts private to avoid harassment, and 41% refrain from sharing much personal information due to a lack of trust in the platforms’ ability to ensure their safety. 32% use social media primarily to stay informed about news and activities, rather than for socializing, and 5% use it solely for work or business purposes. Question 3) (If you have personally experienced sexual harassment through a social media platform or application) On which social media platforms/apps have you personally experienced sexual harassment? [Select all that apply]
Among the 624 women who confirmed experiencing sexual harassment on social media, 57% identified Facebook and/or Facebook Messenger as the platforms or apps where they were most likely to face harassment. 37% of these 624 respondents mentioned Instagram as the platform, while 26% cited dating apps like Tinder or Hinge as the culprits for experiencing sexual harassment. 4% of the respondents who encountered online sexual harassment fell victim to offenders on LinkedIn, a platform primarily designed for professional networking. Question 4) (If you have personally experienced sexual harassment through a social media platform or application) What type(s) of sexual harassment have you personally experienced on social media platforms/apps? [Select all that apply]
The majority (79%) of those who encountered sexual harassment on social media reported unwelcome sexual comments or messages. 59% of the victims stated that they received friend requests or invitations from strangers, which made them uncomfortable. 48% of those targeted mentioned receiving pornographic photos or videos from the offenders. 9% of the victims of online social media sexual harassment reported experiencing threats of sexual violence. Question 5) (If you have personally experienced sexual harassment through a social media platform or application) When you personally experienced sexual harassment on social media, did you report it to anyone or take any action? [Select all that apply]
Among the 624 women who acknowledged being sexually harassed on social media, 76% of them took action by blocking the individuals who were sexually harassing them. 42% of the respondents reported the offenders to the respective social media app or platform where the abuse occurred. 5% escalated the matter to the police, while unfortunately, 11% did not take any action as they believed the platform, app, or police would not respond adequately. Question 6) (If you have personally experienced sexual harassment through a social media platform or application) Which, if any, long-term effects have you experienced as a result of the online sexual harassment? [Select all that apply]
Among the women who answered affirmatively to question one, 32% stated that the experience left them feeling violated and/or intimidated. 21% reported that the sexual harassment made them doubt their personal appearance, while 19% mentioned suffering from anxiety due to the incidents. Approximately 10% of the victims stated that the sexual harassment affected their current intimate relationships, and 3% reported adverse effects on their careers. Question 7) (All respondents) Which of the following statements best describes your experience of sexual harassment through a social media platform/app?
Out of the 3,000 women surveyed, an overwhelming majority of 68.2% (2,045 women) agreed that social media companies are not doing enough to address sexual harassment on their platforms or applications. Only 7.8% believed that social media companies are taking sufficient action, while 24.0% of the respondents were unsure whether companies are adequately protecting their female users from sexual harassment.
To access the full report, please visit: (https://www.sellcell.com/blog/social-media-sexual-harrassment-survey-2023/)
