Identifying risky Internet use: Associating negative online experience with specific online behaviours

Abstract

Experiencing negative outcomes online is increasingly common, with more people active online and the continued presence of aggressive online behaviours. This study sought to uncover the underlying factor structure of negative online consequences. It investigated how experiencing negative outcomes is associated with engaging in specific online activities. Australian adult Internet users (N = 1773, mean age = 42.5 years, 54.8% female) completed an online survey. An underlying factor structure was identified with subgroups of negative outcomes identified relating to hacking/identity theft, abuse/ harassment, non-targeted scams and targeted scams. Victimisation was associated with engagement with online pornography and forums; use of multiple discussion forums, dating, and gaming sites; and expenditure on gaming, dating and pornography sites. Results suggest that overall Internet involvement does not predict victimisation, but specific activities are linked to certain harms. This research creates a framework to inform policy and practice to minimise online victimisation and guide ongoing research.

Young, Bullying, and Connected. Common Pathways to Cyberbullying and Problematic Internet Use in Adolescence

“…The virtual context, in fact, is a crucial scenario to be considered when investigating the dynamics of socialization and communication involved in the construction of views, values, and patterns of behavior that define and influence adolescents’ lifestyles, and, consequentially, their psychological well-being. Beyond the benefits of the Internet and ICT expansion into society, there are many risks that result from their misuse (Livingstone et al, 2011): access to discriminatory and prejudicial content and cyberbullying, pornography, sexting, sextortion, online gambling, and videogame addiction have been reported as emerging and alarming behaviors within the adolescent population (Garaigordobil and Aliri, 2013; Romer and Moreno, 2017; Gainsbury et al, 2018).…”

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“…This could be upsetting, as an increasing number of people are willing to make their personal data available in a relatively uninquiring way, especially in the online context (Gainsbury, Browne, & Rockloff, 2018;Lee, Gillath, & Miller, 2019). The change in citizens' behaviour led to an exposing culture, where people are fascinated by showing their private lives everywhere, a kind of lateral surveillance or "sousveillance" (Ganascia, 2010;Han, 2014;Harcourt, 2015;Morozov, 2013).…”

“…This process of extensive and intensive sharing of information does not necessarily mean that people do not reflect on the use that is made of their data (Lupton & Michael, 2017). It is possible that the perception of risks associated with the sharing of personal information may be influenced by numerous aspects, such as the sense of familiarity with the context in which information is shared and the sense of confidence that it is possible to manage and control personal information in certain environments (Gainsbury, Browne, & Rockloff, 2018;Papathanassopoulos, Athanasiadis, & Xenofontos, 2016).…”

Disconnect between intentions and outcomes: A comparison of regretted text and photo social networking site posts

“…Finally, certain online behaviors increase the risk of privacy and security violations; allowing one's profile to be publicly visible, accepting friend requests from strangers, and sharing personal or location information may result in damaging consequences. Such activities may increase the possibility that an individual falls victim to identity theft, misuse of personal information, or stalking (Bilge, Strufe, Balzarotti, & Kirda, ; Fire, Goldschmidt, & Elovici, ; Gainsbury, Browne, & Rockloff, ; Gan & Jenkins, ; Vishwanath, ).…”

“…and sharing personal or location information may result in damaging consequences. Such activities may increase the possibility that an individual falls victim to identity theft, misuse of personal information, or stalking (Bilge, Strufe, Balzarotti, & Kirda, 2009;Fire, Goldschmidt, & Elovici, 2014;Gainsbury, Browne, & Rockloff, 2019;Gan & Jenkins, 2015;Vishwanath, 2015).…”