- The most common type of online risks faced by the Singapore respondents include sexual risks (68%); hoaxes, scams and frauds (61%); behavioural risks (54%); and unwanted content (45%).
Sexual risks: Receiving unwanted sexual messages or images topped the list with 68% of the local respondents saying that they have encountered this situation before, higher than the global average of 67%.
Behavioural risks: Being called offensive names came in third, with 54% of local respondents saying that they were called offensive names before, higher than the global average of 51%.
Unwanted contact: Being contacted by a stranger to collect personal information came in fourth, with 45% of local respondents saying that they encountered this situation, higher than the global average of 42%.
And while 29% of the online risks encountered by Singapore respondents came from strangers, 41% of these risks came from people that the respondents knew, including online acquaintances, casual acquaintances and co-workers. Additionally, 24% of the online risks encountered by Singapore respondents came from their own family and friends.
Overall, Singapore respondents expressed lower levels of pain from the online risks encountered. Sixty-four percent of the respondents reported mild to moderate pain, with only 15% reporting severe levels of pain from their online risk encounters.
Microsoft notes that the results show that more needs to be done to help local teenagers seek help when facing online risks. According to the research, 51% of Millennials and teenagers reported moderate to severe pain following their online risk encounters. The pain experienced can include widespread emotional, psychological as well as physical pain.
The study additionally revealed that only slightly over half (55%) of the Singapore teens would reach out for help following an online risk encounter. Thirty-two percent of Singapore teenagers who have encountered such risks would ask their parents for help, lower than the global average of 42%; while 23% would ask an adult for help, lower than the global average of 28%.
“As we continue to interact with and in the digital world, we can no longer sit back and allow these online risks to have a negative impact on our lives. Each day, we are being bombarded with unsolicited online content ranging from emails sent by unknown third parties to the circulation of fake news and unwanted sexual messages. And these represent just a fraction of the common scenarios that Singaporeans face in everyday living.
Living the golden rule: I will act with empathy, compassion and kindness in every interaction, and treat everyone I connect with online with dignity and respect.
Pausing before replying: I will pause and think before responding to things I disagree with. I will not post or send anything that could hurt someone else, damage someone’s reputation, or threaten my safety or the safety of others.
Standing up for myself and others: I will tell someone if I feel unsafe, offer support to those who are targets of online abuse or cruelty, report activity that threatens anyone’s safety, and preserve evidence of inappropriate or unsafe behaviour.
Users can also encourage their friends and family on social media to join in the challenge with the hashtags #challenge4civility or #Im4digitalcivility.
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- Many of those who have been a victim of online risks said that the perpetrators were people that they knew.
- In terms of their propensity to seek help, only slightly over half (55%) of Singapore teens said that they would reach out for help following an online risk encounter.
In observance of Safer Internet Day (5 February), new Microsoft research has revealed that Millennials (aged 18 to 34) and teenagers (aged 13 to 17) in Singapore were the hardest hit by online risks compared to other consumer groups.
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| Source: Microsoft. Figure 1: Microsoft Digital Civility Index featuring the 22-country ranking. |
According to the 2019 Microsoft Digital Civility Study, 69% of Millennials and 66% of teenagers in Singapore have encountered at least one form of online risk – including exposure to unwanted contact; hoaxes, scams and fraud; behavioural risks and sexual risks – in their lifetime, ahead of the Generation X (59%) and Baby Boomers (48%).
The study, which placed Singapore 10th out of 22 countries for the rate of exposure to online risks, also found local teenagers to be less likely to seek help compared to others. Teenagers here faced an average of 2.6 online risks in their lifetime, with teenage girls being more vulnerable, averaging three online risks compared to the 2.2 faced by teenage boys. Millennials, on the other hand, averaged 2.5 online risks, significantly higher than the Generation X and Baby Boomers, who averaged 2.1 and 1.4 online risks respectively.
Conducted with 11,000 respondents in 22 countries, including 500 Singapore adults (aged 18 to 74) and teenagers in May 2018, the Microsoft Digital Civility Study was specifically designed to uncover insights into consumers’ lifetime exposure to a wide range of online risks, to shed light on the impact of online risks to their wellbeing, while informing them about how to stay safe and secure online.
Having yielded insights that 63% of Singapore respondents have encountered at least one form of online risk in their lifetime, lower than the global average of 66%, the study placed Singapore 10th out of 22 countries for the overall rate of exposure to online risks.
Encountering offensive content and fake news stood out as top online risks in Singapore. While the overall incidence of exposure to online risks for Singaporeans was lower than the global average, the country stood out for its rate of exposure to specific types of risks. According to the study, the most common type of online risks faced by the Singapore respondents include:
The study, which placed Singapore 10th out of 22 countries for the rate of exposure to online risks, also found local teenagers to be less likely to seek help compared to others. Teenagers here faced an average of 2.6 online risks in their lifetime, with teenage girls being more vulnerable, averaging three online risks compared to the 2.2 faced by teenage boys. Millennials, on the other hand, averaged 2.5 online risks, significantly higher than the Generation X and Baby Boomers, who averaged 2.1 and 1.4 online risks respectively.
Conducted with 11,000 respondents in 22 countries, including 500 Singapore adults (aged 18 to 74) and teenagers in May 2018, the Microsoft Digital Civility Study was specifically designed to uncover insights into consumers’ lifetime exposure to a wide range of online risks, to shed light on the impact of online risks to their wellbeing, while informing them about how to stay safe and secure online.
Having yielded insights that 63% of Singapore respondents have encountered at least one form of online risk in their lifetime, lower than the global average of 66%, the study placed Singapore 10th out of 22 countries for the overall rate of exposure to online risks.
Encountering offensive content and fake news stood out as top online risks in Singapore. While the overall incidence of exposure to online risks for Singaporeans was lower than the global average, the country stood out for its rate of exposure to specific types of risks. According to the study, the most common type of online risks faced by the Singapore respondents include:
Sexual risks: Receiving unwanted sexual messages or images topped the list with 68% of the local respondents saying that they have encountered this situation before, higher than the global average of 67%.
Hoaxes, scams and frauds: Encountering fake news came in second, with 61% of local respondents saying that they have encountered this situation before, higher than the global average of 57%.
Behavioural risks: Being called offensive names came in third, with 54% of local respondents saying that they were called offensive names before, higher than the global average of 51%.
Unwanted contact: Being contacted by a stranger to collect personal information came in fourth, with 45% of local respondents saying that they encountered this situation, higher than the global average of 42%.
And while 29% of the online risks encountered by Singapore respondents came from strangers, 41% of these risks came from people that the respondents knew, including online acquaintances, casual acquaintances and co-workers. Additionally, 24% of the online risks encountered by Singapore respondents came from their own family and friends.
Overall, Singapore respondents expressed lower levels of pain from the online risks encountered. Sixty-four percent of the respondents reported mild to moderate pain, with only 15% reporting severe levels of pain from their online risk encounters.
Microsoft notes that the results show that more needs to be done to help local teenagers seek help when facing online risks. According to the research, 51% of Millennials and teenagers reported moderate to severe pain following their online risk encounters. The pain experienced can include widespread emotional, psychological as well as physical pain.
The study additionally revealed that only slightly over half (55%) of the Singapore teens would reach out for help following an online risk encounter. Thirty-two percent of Singapore teenagers who have encountered such risks would ask their parents for help, lower than the global average of 42%; while 23% would ask an adult for help, lower than the global average of 28%.
“As we continue to interact with and in the digital world, we can no longer sit back and allow these online risks to have a negative impact on our lives. Each day, we are being bombarded with unsolicited online content ranging from emails sent by unknown third parties to the circulation of fake news and unwanted sexual messages. And these represent just a fraction of the common scenarios that Singaporeans face in everyday living.
"Today on Safer Internet Day, it’s time for us to take a stand. By participating in the Microsoft Digital Civility Challenge and committing to making the four digital civility ideals a reality, we can do our part to help a build a better and safer digital environment for everyone,“ said Richard Koh, CTO, Microsoft Singapore.
On Safer Internet Day, Microsoft is encouraging all Internet users to take part in the annual Digital Civility Challenge and practise the four digital civility ideals to create a more positive online environment for everyone:
Living the golden rule: I will act with empathy, compassion and kindness in every interaction, and treat everyone I connect with online with dignity and respect.
Respecting differences: I will appreciate cultural differences and honour diverse perspectives. When I disagree, I will engage thoughtfully and avoid name-calling and personal attacks.
Pausing before replying: I will pause and think before responding to things I disagree with. I will not post or send anything that could hurt someone else, damage someone’s reputation, or threaten my safety or the safety of others.
Standing up for myself and others: I will tell someone if I feel unsafe, offer support to those who are targets of online abuse or cruelty, report activity that threatens anyone’s safety, and preserve evidence of inappropriate or unsafe behaviour.
Users can also encourage their friends and family on social media to join in the challenge with the hashtags #challenge4civility or #Im4digitalcivility.
Explore:
Find out more ways to get involved
