In a digital age, Internet users, minors in particular, are finding new ways to 'self-harm'. Interestingly, despite the research pointing to
boys being more prone to "digital self-harm", the issue,
like other coverage, is given the
appearance of something particular to girls ("
societies progress as a whole is assessed only by its treatment of a part, that of women and girls").
Purpose
Despite increased media and scholarly attention to digital forms of aggression directed toward adolescents by their peers (e.g., cyberbullying), very little research has explored digital aggression directed toward oneself. “Digital self-harm” is the anonymous online posting, sending, or otherwise sharing of hurtful content about oneself. The current study examined the extent of digital self-harm among adolescents.
Results
About 6% of students have anonymously posted something online about themselves that was mean. Males were significantly more likely to report participation (7.1% compared to 5.3%). Several statistically significant correlates of involvement in digital self-harm were identified, including **** orientation, experience with school bullying and cyberbullying, drug use, participation in various forms of adolescent deviance, and depressive symptoms. [source]
Further Reading-
Men harassed online more but like, seriously, it's not about them - Pew 2017.
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Virtual Reality Assault and Developer Responsibilities.
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Normalising/desensitising violence in games. An (initial) study.
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Harassment of women now a "hate crime".
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CPS Guidelines on Prosecuting Social Media 'crimes'.
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Keeping kids safe; do more....
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Violence against males in games doesn't count... another study that 'proves' it.
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Cyber Violence Against Women and Girls - A World-Wide Wake-Up Call.