50%

24% 18% 15% 36%

29% 28%

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The good newsMicrosoft’s Digital Civility Index(DCI) fell 2 points

Decline in Unwanted Contact

The improvement in DCI was due to a four-point drop in unwanted contact. Other online risks essentially held steady from a year ago

The drop in unwanted contact was nearly universal across age, gender and geography

Respondents reported that family and friends exposure to online risks was down significantly (-5 points YOY) to 63%. Similar to unwanted contact, the downward movement for this metric was remarkably consistent across geographies and demographic groups

BehavioralBehavioral risk types were defined by bullying

Nearly everyone in this category experienced name calling, purposeful embarrassment or other types of bullying.

40%

SexualSexual risk types were driven by unwelcomed sexual imagery and messages Receipt of unwanted sexual imagery or messages dominated this category. Nearly 4 in 10 had repeated unwanted attempts to start a romantic relationship. This behavior was also a problem in the unwanted contact category.

34%Hoaxes, scams or fraudHoaxes, scams or fraud types were led by false or misleading informationFake news and internet hoaxes were the most common types of hoaxes, scams & frauds far ahead of fake anti-virus scams

28%

The bad newsIncrease in number of respondents experiencing consequences from online risks

Four out of five Microsoft Digital Civility Challenge items declined

Pervasive presence of online risks inflicted widespread emotional, psychological and physical pain

The DCI improved slightly

The nature of online risk types

Our social circles became more risky

The pain of online risks was widespread

Consequences were up; positive actions were down

Millennials experienced the most risk

Risks were harder on girls than boys

Most improved DCI

However, most risk exposure came from strangers and people we are less familiar with

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2016 2017 2018

Risk Exposure 2016-2018

43%

61%

65%

68%

68%66%

63%

44%40%

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Unwanted contactUnwanted contact was characterized by repeated attempts to make contact

More than 4 in 10 people reported at least one form of unwanted contact that was repeated

40%

Strangers & know online only

of those experiencing risks felt some pain

Friends & family63%

84%

Most painful risks:#1. Damage to reputation (personal and work)

#2. Cyberbullying

#3. Discrimination

Top Consequences

Millennials had the highest DCI at 73%

Girls exposure and response to online risks was stronger than boys

Although girls reported less confidence in dealing with risks, they took more actions about them

Fewer positive actions taken

Loss of trust

I paused before replying to someone I disagreed with

Millennials (ages 18-34) experienced the highest rates of risk and their consequences. They registered the highest average number of risks and the fewest that never experienced a risk.

I defended someone who was treated unsafe or uncivil online

YOY +4

YOY -5 YOY -4

I treated other people with dignity & respect

I used tighter privacy settings on social media

YOY -4 YOY -3

YOY +4 YOY +3

28%

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16%No pain

Increased stress Loss of sleep

63%73%

66%62% 2.7

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70% 75%71%

64%

58% 60%

49%

39%

People were most ofen targeted based on:Gender, age or physical appearance

of girls reported that gender was the reason they were targeted for a risk

62%of boys reported that gender was the reason they were targeted for a risk

39%

The pain from risks was stronger and sustained longer

Incidents were more emotionally burdensome

Generated greater worry about them happening again

Level of consequences was higher

1. Blocking/unfriending perpetrator

2. Reducing amount of information shared online

3. Using tighter privacy settings

Happened to me

Family or friend

Unwanted contact

Level of pain(Base: those who experienced a risk)

Boomers

Consequences (any)Ave # of risksDCI Moderate to Severe Pain

Four countries contributed the most to lowering DCI

USA

-10GERMANY

-8FRANCE

-6BELGIUM

-5

Improving DCI in the U.S. was broad based as all four risk categories experienced significant declines. Germany saw declines in intrusive and behavioral risks. DCI gains in France and Belgium were narrow, confined to improvements in unwanted contact.

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DCI Intrusive Behavioral Sexual Reputational

Risk Exposure YOY

USA Germany France Belgium

The state of digital civility in 2018C I V I L I T Y, S A F E T Y & I N T E R A C T I O N O N L I N E