1. Civility, Safety & Interaction Online
2/16/2019
Civility, Safety & Interaction Online
United States, August 2018
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

2. Key Findings – United States
The nature of online risk types: The types of risks that stood out for the U.S. compared to the global averages included: 1) receiving offensive or obscene content, 2) encountered phishing/spoofing scams, and 3) unwelcomed requests for sexual favors or intimate imagery 
Our social circles became more risky: Within the U.S., risks from family and friends increased significantly to 22% (+5 points), though the gain was not as pronounced as in other countries
The pain from online risks was significant: Within the U.S., moderate to severe pain was experienced by 51% of consumers, slightly above the global average  
Consequences were up; positive actions were down: U.S. consumers bucked the WW trend for consequences, and were less likely to say they had lost trust in others following online risk exposure vs. the previous year
Millennials and teenage girls were hit hardest by risks: A greater percentage of teenage girls in the U.S. suffered moderate to severe pain following online risk exposure compared to their global peers (73% vs. 64%)
There was a surge in teens asking for help. The U.S. matched the global average in teens seeking help from parents (42%), but was slightly below the global average in asking for help from other adults (22%); both were almost twice the previous year’s levels
Big improvement in Microsoft's Digital Civility Index (DCI): The U.S. (-10) registered the largest gain in DCI of any country WW and helped drive the WW decrease in DCI overall

3. Nature of online risk types in the U.S.
2/16/2019
Nature of online risk types in the U.S.
The most common type of unwanted contact involved attempts to collect personal information; receiving offensive or obscene content in the U.S. was notably higher than the global average 
Americans were most likely to encounter phishing/spoofing scams and internet hoaxes; the former significantly higher than the global average 
Various forms of bullying were the most typical behavioral risks experienced 
Receipt of unwanted sexual imagery or messages dominated this category both in the U.S. and globally; unwelcomed requests for sexual favors or intimate imagery were 10 points higher in the U.S. than globally 
Q2.01 Please choose which of the following TYPES of Unwanted Contact you have ever experienced. Q2.02 Please choose which of the following TYPES of Hoaxes, scams or, frauds you have ever experienced.
Q2.03 Please choose which of the following TYPES of offensive behavior you have ever experienced. Q2.04. …Please choose which of the following TYPES of Sexual risks you have experienced ever.
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

4. Social circles became riskier in the U.S.
2/16/2019
Social circles became riskier in the U.S.
Worldwide, while 62% of online risks were sourced from strangers and people respondents knew online only, family and friends accounted for 28% of online risks, up 11 points YOY
Within the U.S., family and friends also increased significantly to 22%, though the gain was not as pronounced as in other countries (+5% versus previous year)
Family & friends increased by 5 points in the US
(11 points WW)
JR add
*Added in Latest Wave
Q2a. Which types of people have, in the past treated you in an unsafe or uncivil manner online?
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

5. Severe pain from online risks was lower in the U.S.
2/16/2019
Severe pain from online risks was lower in the U.S.
Worldwide, 55% of consumers reported experiencing moderate or severe pain due to online risks, with 16% saying they felt no pain at all
Within the U.S., moderate to severe pain was experienced by 51% of consumers, slightly below the global average;  Americans reported below- average levels of severe pain compared to the rest of the world 
Q5.1: How much emotional, psychological or physical pain did you suffer because of…
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

6. 2/16/2019
The U.S. fared better in consequences from risks, but showed bigger drops in positive actions taken following online risk exposure
Worldwide, there was an increase in consequences and a decrease in positive actions; the top five consequences showed 3- or 4-point increases from the previous year; people also were less likely to take positive actions (-3 to -5 points)
U.S. consumers bucked the WW trend for consequences and were less likely to say they had lost trust in other people in the latest year's study vs. the previous year
Unfortunately, the U.S. showed much greater drops in positive actions, declining 2-3 times the WW average
Consequences: United States
latest research* p
Became less trusting of other people online
34%
-5%
Became less trusting of other people offline
26% 0%
My life became more stressful
30% 3%
Lost sleep
Was less likely to participate in social media, blogs and forums
22%
Positive Actions: United States
latest research* p
I paused before replying to someone I disagreed with**
19%
-9%
I defended someone who was treated unsafe or uncivil online**
13%
-15%
I treated other people with dignity & respect**
12%
-10%
I used tighter privacy settings on social media
25%
-7%
I showed respect for other people’s POV**
*Worldwide trend based on 20 countries common in latest research and prior year
**Digital Civility Challenge item
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

7. Millennials and teenage girls were hit the hardest
2/16/2019
Millennials and teenage girls were hit the hardest
Online risks had some of the strongest impacts on millennials and teenage girls in terms of risk exposure, consequences and the attendant psychological, physical and emotional pain
Overall, exposure to risks as measured by DCI and average number of risks was lower than the global averages
A larger percentage of teenage girls in the U.S. suffered moderate to severe pain compared to their global peers (72% vs. 64%)
Q2: Which of these has ever happened to you or to a friend/family member ONLINE? Q9: ….Please tell us if any of the following has ever happened to you or to a friend/family member as a consequence of being treated uncivilly? Q5.1: How much emotional, psychological or physical pain did you suffer because of…
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.

8. More teens asked for help with online risks
Worldwide, there was a big surge in teenagers asking for help with online risks from both parents (+32 points to 42%) and adults (+19 points to 28%)
In the U.S., teens matched the global average in asking for help from a parent, but reported a smaller percentage when asked about seeking help from another adult
Asking another adult for help rose 9 points
Asking parents for help jumped 24 points
Q12: Have you ever taken any of the following actions after you were treated in an unsafe or uncivil manner online?

9. 2/16/2019
DCI trend
DCI Rank
Country
Region
2 years ago
prior year
latest research
Global 65 68 66 2
United States
N. America 56 61 51 8
Canada 60 1
United Kingdom
W. Europe 45 50 3
France 58 52 4
Belgium 59 5
Germany 62 57 9
Italy 63 11
Ireland 64 16
Hungary
CEE 73 72 19
Russia 74 75 6
Malaysia
APAC 7
India 10
Singapore 15
Vietnam 71 12
Mexico
Latam 76 69 13
Brazil 70 17
Colombia 77 18
Argentina 20
Chile 22
Peru 78 79 14
Turkey
MEA 21
South Africa
Worldwide, Microsoft’s Digital Civility Index (DCI) fell two points from the previous year, driven by a widespread decline in unwanted contact 
The U.S. (-10) registered the largest gain in DCI of any country WW, and helped drive the WW decrease
Improving DCI in the U.S. was broad based with all four risk categories (personal/intrusive, behavioral, sexual, reputational) experiencing significant declines
Drops in unwanted contact (personal/intrusive risk) were especially large in the U.S. (-10)
*Worldwide trend based on 20 countries common in latest research and prior year
Q2: Which of these has ever happened to you or to a friend/family member ONLINE?
© 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This material is provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied.