Over a third (34%) of young people have felt depressed because of something they have seen on a social network site and one in seven (14%) have been victims of cyber bullying, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by the Prince’s Trust.
34% of 16-25 year olds in the UK say they have felt depressed as a direct result of something they have viewed on a social networking website. Young women are more likely to be negatively affected by posts they have seen on social networks.
- More than a third (34%) of young people in Britain have felt depressed because of something they have seen on a social network site, compared to 44% who disagree with this
- Almost one in four (39%) women aged between 16 and 25 have felt miserable as a direct result of posts they have viewed on social networks, while 30% of young men say the same
Online bullying
More than one in seven (14%) young Brits also admit that they have been bullied online, with 20% saying that they have witnessed more bullying online than in person. 16-18 year olds are the most likely to have been victims of cyber bullying and have seen more bullying over the internet than in real life.
- 14% of 16-25 year olds say they have been bullied online, while almost seven in ten (69%) disagree with this
- Nearly one in five (18%) Brits aged between 16 and 18 have been victims of cyber bullying, compared to 15% of 19-21 year olds and 10% of 22-25 year olds
- 20% of young adults say they have witnessed more bullying online than in person, but over half (53%) disagree with this
- Over three in ten (31%) 16-18 year olds have seen more cyber bullying than bullying in real life, while only 18% of those aged between 19 and 21 and 14% of 22-25 year olds say the same
Internet pals
The poll also reveals that 39% of young adults are friends with people online that they have never met before, which increases to almost half (46%) of 16-18 year olds.
- Almost four in ten (39%) Brits aged 16-25 say they have made friends with people over the internet that they have never met, while 46% disagree with this
- A plurality (46%) of 16-18 year olds say that they are friends with people online that they do not know in person, compared to 39% of 19-21 year olds and 35% of Brits aged between 22 and 25
The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track by supporting 13 to 30 year olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion
