As the pandemic continues, the world is becoming more digital than ever which poses increased risk for young women to experience online harassment, Plan International claims.
The finding draws from a research titled “Free to be online? Girls’ and young women’s experiences of online harassment,” which was launched during the International Day of the Girl, October 11.
The study was conducted via surveys and in-depth interviews involving 14,000 girls, 500 of which coming from the Philippines, between the ages of 15 and 24 across 31 countries.
Narrowing the scope of the study in the Philippines, it was found out that more than half—or, more specifically, 67 percent—of girls and young women in the Philippines have experienced harassment online, particularly on social media.
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Another striking finding boils down to the frequency by which the incident occurs, telling that it happens frequently (50 percent) or very frequently (33 percent).
Harassment in the online environment is so prevalent, as it seems, that the chances of a person getting mistreated on social media is greater than encountering it in person on the street.
43 percent of the participants claim to have a first-hand experiencing of the bullying or even someone else they know.
Victims of online harassment often include girls and young women who belong in the “minority,” such as in an ethnic group, LGBTQ+ community, or those with disability.