Experiences of Online Harassment Among Emerging Adults

Abstract

Online harassment is a growing problem. Among college students, 43% report some experience receiving harassing messages. Previous research has shown negative online experiences to be typical among "emerging adults" (especially college students), and these incidents may be related to normative developmental behaviors, such as "on-again-off-again" romantic relationships. Study hypotheses were derived from previous research. Undergraduate student respondents ( N = 342) were surveyed about their experiences with online harassment, emotional responses to online harassment, and their relationship with the sender of harassing messages. Findings suggest that online harassment is linked to issues of intimate partner violence. Those who were harassed by a partner reported feelings of depression and anxiety. Using a gendered framework to explore online harassment is warranted because young women who are 18 to 29 years of age have higher rates of intimate partner violence than other demographic groups. Findings suggest future research is needed to understand the time ordering of these issues.

Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Victimization: Results From an Online Survey of Australian Adults

“…There are, however, a number of terms that are used to refer to digital harassment more generally. For instance, Bennett, Guran, Ramos, and Margolin (2011) use the term electronic aggression ; Fenaughty and Harré (2013) electronic harassment ; Finn (2004) and Lindsay et al (2016) online harassment ; Thompson and Morrison (2013) technology-based coercive behaviour ; Gámez-Guadix, Almendros, Borrajo, and Calvete (2015) online victimization ; and Reyns et al (2012) cybervictimization . Azy Barak (2005) describes digital sexual harassment as “uninvited behaviors that explicitly communicate sexual desires or intentions towards another individual,” thus incorporating unwanted sexual requests, and/or sexually explicit images, comments, emails, or messages, and differentiating sexual harassment from harassment generally (p. 78).…”

“…The use of digital communication technologies for the facilitation of sexual violence and harassment is an increasingly significant phenomenon in studies of interpersonal violence. While there is a large body of literature on various forms of victimization in cyberspace, such as cyberbullying (e.g., Hinduja & Patchin, 2008), cyberstalking (e.g., Reyns, Henson, & Fisher, 2012; Spitzberg & Cupach, 2003), online harassment (e.g., Finn, 2004; Lindsay, Booth, Messing, & Thaller, 2016), and coercive or non-consensual sexting (e.g., Crofts et al, 2015; Patrick, Heywood, Pitts, & Mitchell, 2015), the vast majority of studies on digital forms of sexual victimization specifically concern children and young people (see, for example, Bossler, Holt, & May, 2012; Crofts et al, 2015; Klettke, Hallford, & Mellor, 2014; Lee & Crofts, 2015; Lounsbury, Mitchell, & Finkelhor, 2011; Mitchell, Finkelhor, Jones, & Wolak, 2012; Patrick et al, 2015; Wolak, Mitchell, & Finkelhor, 2007; Ybarra, Mitchell, Wolak, & Finkelhor, 2006). As such, little is known about the nature, scope, prevalence, impacts, and experiences among adult victims of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV).…”

Bystander Intervention to Abusive Behavior on Social Networking Websites

“…In addition, technological advances may facilitate the ease with which perpetrators can engage in IPV and stalking (Lindsay, Booth, Messing, & Thaller, 2016; Southworth, Finn, Dawson, Fraser, & Tucker, 2007). Attention to the difference between online and offline stalking behaviors is important as the mechanism by which the offender engages in the behaviors may create different forms of fear and require different protection measures.…”

Cyberbullying across the Lifespan of Education: Issues and Interventions from School to University

“…Essentially, research into cyberbullying indicates negative immediate effects on the target with potentially harmful long-term impacts on psychosocial development, self-esteem, academic achievement and mental health [16,17,18,19]. For the students who are the targets of such bullying behaviours, the experience is unpleasant and distressing in the short term.…”