research findings march 2006

Research FindingsMarch 2006

Cox Communications Teen Internet Safety Survey in Partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children(Fielded among Youth 13-17)

Contact:Mallard HollidayCox [email protected] 404.843.5981

>Background and Research Objectives

>Methodology> Sample Composition> Interpreting the Data

>Executive Summary

>Detailed Findings> Teen Online Behavior> Teen Perceptions of Internet Safety> Families Talking to Teens about Internet Safety

>Appendix> Respondent Profiles

> As part of its commitment to youth, Cox Communications sought to better understand teen online behavior, perceptions of internet safety generally, and the role parents or guardians play in their children’s use of online media.

> Ultimately, Cox seeks to use this research to craft content advocating internet safety and parental involvement for an upcoming satellite media tour.

> To that end, Cox commissioned TRU to conduct a nationally representative online survey among 1000 U.S. teenagers ages 13-17.

> For this research in March, 2006, TRU was specifically asked to:

> Measure online teens’ tendency to exhibit potentially risky behavior via the internet as well as other forms of virtual communication (e.g. text, email, and IM messaging, etc.)

> Gauge youth perceptions about the safety or potential risk they associate with online activities such as maintaining an internet profile

> Assess current levels of parental involvement and parental knowledge about what teens do on the internet or in other virtual environments

BACKGROUND & RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

Research Objectives



>Executive Summary



Sample Composition

> Sample composition

> Youth ages 13-17 (n=1,160) with online access

> Sample distribution:

> Sample Weighting

> Sample size for boys and girls in each of the two age groupings (13-15, 16-17) is not fully aligned with census data, though the number of teens interviewed for this survey is sufficiently large to be projected to all U.S. teenagers. Therefore, data are weighted based on key demographic variables—in this case, age and gender—to reflect the national population of teens 13-17.

> Interviews were conducted online in February and March, 2006 among a geographically representative sample.

METHODOLOGY

INTERVIEWSBoysGirls

Total

Age 13-15 Age 16-17

1,160

281 373262244

Interpreting the Data: How to Read the Charts

> Titles and Bullets> Each page featuring a chart includes a title describing the information shown

and a summary of key points found at right.

> The survey question that provides the basis for each chart is highlighted at the bottom of the report page.

> Sample Composition> Base Sizes

– The number of respondents for each question is noted in the legend or in the chart title. All 1,160 respondents answered most questions, however some questions were completed by only a subset who indicated they’d had prior internet

experiences such as being contacted online by people they didn’t know.

> Survey Response Scales> Different response scales were used throughout this survey. For example:

– Yes No – Very Safe Very Unsafe (five-point scale)– Extremely Concerned Not At All Concerned (five-point scale)

> Unless noted, “Yes” responses are shown (see sample graph at left) and indicate the percentage of teens involved with different types of online activities.

> The complete scale range is shown for all other types of question in all other graphs (e.g. Very Safe, Somewhat Safe, In the Middle, Somewhat Unsafe, Very Unsafe).

> Significance Testing> Where appropriate, base sizes used for statistically testing differences between

segments are noted in a graph’s legend (in parentheses).

> Upper-case letters next to a number indicate that the value is “significantly” greater (at the 95% confidence level) than the segment the letter represents.

> Lower-case letters indicate values that are “directionally” greater—that is, significant at the 90% confidence level.

METHODOLOGY

Question 5: Have you ever received personal messages (email, IM, chat, or text messages-not “junk mail” like spam or email blasts) from someone you didn’t know?

Question 6: While online, have you have been asked for personal information by someone you never met?Question 8: Have you ever considered meeting with someone whom you had only talked to online?Question 9: Have you ever actually met with someone whom you had only talked to online?

ONLINE BEHAVIORS INVOLVING PEOPLE TEENS

DON'T KNOW

9%

24%

40%

66%

11%

40%

70%

14%

30%

45%

71%

22%C

39%C

79%C

52%C

26%

72%

50%A

34%B

17%BActually metsomeone I hadonly talked to

online

Consideredmeeting

someone I hadonly talked to

online

Been askedfor personal

information bysomeone Inever met

Receivedpersonal

messagesfrom someoneI didn't know

TOTAL (1,160)(A) Males (580)(B) Females (580)(C) Ages 13-15 (696)(D) Ages 16-17 (464)

Interpreting the Data: How to Read the Charts (cont’d)

> In the pages that follow, the primary focus is on differences and similarities in perceptions and behaviors with respect to internet/virtual communication safety between:

> Teens 13-15 and Teens 16-17

> Boys and Girls

> However, respondents were also further divided into groups for more in-depth analysis. These groups include:

> Teens who have received personal online messages from someone they don’t know– Defined as youth who responded “Yes” to Question 5:

• Have you ever received personal messages (email, IM, chat, or text messages—not “junk mail” like spam or email blasts) from someone you didn’t know?

> Teens who have a profile on a networking site– Defined as youth who indicated they had a profile on a networking site (like

MySpace.com, Friendster.com, Xanga.com, etc.) in Question 3:• Which of the following do you have?

> Teens who think posting information on a networking site is safe vs. those who think it is unsafe

– Defined as youth who responded “Very Safe,” “Somewhat Safe” or “Somewhat Unsafe,” “Very Unsafe” to Question 10:

• How safe or unsafe do you think it is for someone to have their personal information on a public blog or networking site (like MySpace, Friendster, Xanga, etc.)?

> Teens whose parents or guardians have discussed potential dangers of online sharing of personal information with them

– Defined as youth who responded “Yes A Lot,” “Yes, A Little,” or “No” to Question 12:• Have your parents or guardians talked to you about internet safety?

METHODOLOGY

Segments for Analysis



>Executive Summary



> Teens have established significant presence on social networking web pages: 61% of 13- to 17-year-olds have a personal profile on a site such as MySpace, Friendster, or Xanga. Half have also posted pictures of themselves online.

> Older teens (16-17s) and girls especially use the internet for social interaction, meeting friends, and networking.

> However, many have also been exposed to the internet’s accompanying potential risks.

> 71% reported receiving messages online from someone they don’t know.> 45% have been asked for personal information by someone they don’t know.> 30% have considered meeting someone that they’ve only talked to online> 14% have actually met a person face-to-face they they’ve only spoken to over the

internet (9% of 13-15s; 22% of 16-17s).

> When teens receive messages online from someone they don’t know, 40% reported that they’ll usually reply and chat with that person.

> Only 18% said they’ll tell an adult.

> One out of five teens report that it is safe (i.e. “somewhat” or “very safe”) to share personal information on a public blog or networking site.

> As well, 37% of 13- to 17-year-olds said they are “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned” about someone using information they’ve posted online in ways they don’t want.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYTeen Internet Usage and Attitudes about Safety Present Potential Risks but also Opportunities for Education and a Role for Watchful Parents and Guardians

Teen Online Behavior:

Teen Perceptions of Internet Safety:

> One out of three 13- to- 17-year-olds reported that their parents or guardians know “very little” or “nothing” about what they do on the internet.

> 48% of 16-17s said their parents or guardians know “very little” or “nothing”

> Fully 22% of those surveyed reported their parents or guardians have never discussed internet safety with them.

> On the other hand, 36% of youth—girls and younger teens most notably—said that their parents or guardians have talked to them “a lot” about online safety, and 70% said their parents or guardians have discussed the subject with them during the past year.

> Fewer teens whose families have talked to them “a lot” about online safety have an IM name or pictures of themselves on the internet, compared to kids whose families have not talked to them at all. More teens who’ve talked to parents or guardians also ignore messages from unfamiliar people, refuse to reply or chat, block unknown senders, and report these occurrences to trusted adults.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYFamilies Talking to Teens about Internet Safety Helps Reduce Some Youth Exposure to Potential Threats and Encourages Safer Online Decisions Among Teens

Families Talking to Teens about Internet Safety:



>Executive Summary



More older teens, especially girls, venture online volunteering personal profile information and pictures

> Nearly all youth 13-17 have a personal email address, and 84% have an instant message (IM) screen name they use for chatting with friends and family.

> About 61% of all those surveyed have an online profile that contains personal information. Half have posted pictures of themselves on the internet.

> All forms of online presence are greater among older teens (16-17s): significantly more have their own email address, IM name, cell phone or texting device, web profile, blog, and pictures of themselves posted online (10-25 point margin ahead of 13-15s).

> More girls than boys have profiles on networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster, or Xanga (66% vs. 56%) and have posted pictures of themselves online (54% vs. 46%).

> Among 16- to 17-year-old girls, these percentages are even greater: 80% have an internet profile and 71% have uploaded pictures.

> These findings are consistent with a variety of TRU research that shows more females than males utilize the internet for social interaction, meeting friends, networking, etc.

> More guys (49%) than girls (17%) have a game system that allows them to chat online with other players.

Question 3: Which of the following do you have? Please mark all that apply.

DETAILED FINDINGS

TEENS’ ONLINE EXPERIENCE

35%32%

34%

40%

51%

57%

79%

92%

17%

84%

34%

46%

56%

61%

84%

93%

33%

37%

50%

61%

63%

84%

95%

65%C

75%C

71%C

91%C

43%C

99%C

54%A

66%A

64%

41%A

96%A

49%BA game systemthat lets you chat

online

A blog

Pictures ofyourself posted

online

A profile on anetworking site

A cell phone orother texting

device

An IM screen-name

A personal emailaddress


Messages from unknown senders common; more girls have been asked for personal info, and more guys have actually met up with someone only known from the net

> Most 13- to 17-year-olds have received messages online from someone they don’t know (71%).

> 79% of 16-17s have received communication from unknown parties via the internet.

> Roughly 45% of those surveyed said someone they’ve never met has asked them for personal information online.

> This percentage is higher among girls (50%) and older teens (52%).

> Almost one-third (30%) of teens have considered meeting a person that they’ve only talked to online.

> About 14% of 13- to 17-year-olds have actually met someone face-to-face that they’d previously only communicated with via the internet.

> 22% of 16-17s have met a person from online vs. only 9% of 13-15s.

> 17% of boys have met someone from the internet in person vs. 11% of girls.



DETAILED FINDINGS

9%

24%

40%

66%

11%

40%

70%

14%

30%

45%

71%

22%C

39%C

79%C

52%C

26%

72%

50%A

34%B

17%BActually metsomeone I hadonly talked to

online

Consideredmeeting someoneI had only talked

to online

Been asked forpersonal

information bysomeone I never

met

Received personalmessages fromsomeone I didn't

know



DON'T KNOW

Having an online profile renders more teens open to potential internet risks

> Compared to teens without internet profiles, more 13- to- 17-year-olds who have profiles on a networking site such as MySpace, Friendster, and Xanga have:

> received messages online from someone they don’t know> been asked for personal information from someone with

whom they’re not familiar> considered meeting people they’ve only talked to online> actually met someone they’ve only talked to via the internet



DETAILED FINDINGS

6%

18%

60%

33%

19% B

38% B

53% B

79% B

Actually metsomeone Ihad onlytalked toonline

Consideredmeeting

someone Ihad onlytalked toonline

Been askedfor personal

information bysomeone Inever met

Receivedpersonal

messagesfrom

someone Ididn't know

(A) Have Profile onNetworking Site (706)

(B) No Profile onNetworking site (454)


DON'T KNOW

Most teens respond for more information when contacted by unfamiliar people online; 40% then usually continue to chat with those individuals

> Nearly half (47%) of teens said they ignore online messages from people they don’t know, and about 37% said they have blocked such people from sending more messages.

> However, fully 72% have responded to ask who someone is when receiving these messages online, indicating that teens’ internet behavior is not consistent.

> Another 40% said they usually reply and chat when people they don’t know contact them.

> More guys (44%) than girls (35%) said they reply and chat with someone they don’t know.

> More 16-17s (44%) than 13-15s (36%) said they respond and converse.

> Few older teens tell an adult when the receive a message from someone they do not know (6%).

> Conversely, 27% of 13-15s tell an adult.

> Also, 21% of females vs. 14% of males said they usually mention these messages to an adult.

> Nearly one-third (32%) of 13- to 17-year-olds said they usually don’t tell anyone about online messages they receive from people they don’t know.

Question 7: When someone whose name you don’t recognize contacts you online (email, IM, text, or chat messages), do you usually…[multiple responses permitted]

DETAILED FINDINGS

TEENS’ RESPONSES TO ONLINE MESSAGES FROM SOMEONE THEY DON’T KNOW

(Among those who have received messages online from someone they don’t know – multiple answers permitted from respondents)

6%

29%

36%

69%

32%

30%

43%

69%

18%

32%

40%

47%

72%

37%C

75%c

42%

44%C

32%

27%D

41%D

51%D

21%A

74%a

32%

49%a

35%

43%A

44%B

14%

37%

Tell a trustedadult

Not tell anyone

Block them fromsending any

more messages

Reply or chatwith the person

Ignore theirmessages

Respond to askwho they are

TOTAL (827)(A) Males (407)(B) Females (419)(C) Ages 13-15 (459)(D) Ages 16-17 (368)

33%31%

32%

52%

60%

55%

60%

31%

39%

49%

57%

60%

61%

32%

40%

56%

62%

63%

64%

51%C

70%C

73%C

65%

62%C

68%A

41%

65%a

67%A

63%A

32%Found out

someone onlinewas really a

different age orsex

Met in personsomeone they

first knew on theinternet

Been asked forpersonal

information bysomeone theyhad never met

Lied online abouttheir age

Became friendswith someonefirst met on the

internet

Responded tomessages

received onlinefrom an unknown

name


Teens’ friends (girls 16-17 and 13-15 in particular) also drawn to answering online messages from people they don’t know and to meeting friends on the internet

> Nearly two-thirds (64%) of 13- to 17-year-olds said their friends have responded to online messages from people they didn’t know. This percentage is higher again among girls, both 16-17s and 13-15s.

> More than half (56%) said they know friends who have been asked for personal information by someone they’ve never met.

> Approximately 63% have peers who have developed friendships with people they first met online.

> About 40% know at least one friend who has met in person someone they first knew only on the internet.

> Again, more teen girls than teen guys and more older teens (16-17s) have friends who’ve talked to unfamiliar people online, been asked for personal information, become friends with someone online, and met people from the internet face-to-face.

> A majority (62%) also know friends who have lied about their age over the internet.

> More older teen guys know friends who said they were a different age online, whereas similar percentages of girls 16-17 and girls 13-15 said they had friends who’ve lied about their age.

> About one-third of teens said they know friends who have found out someone online was really a different age or sex.

Question 4: Do you know any friends your age that…

DETAILED FINDINGS

WHAT TEENS’ FRIENDS ARE DOING ONLINE

Lied about ageGuys 13-15: 54%Guys 16-17: 62%Girls 13-15: 67%

Girls 16-17: 68%

Responded to people they don’t knowGirls 13-15: 67%

Girls 16-17: 69%



>Executive Summary



One out of five 13- to- 17-year-olds report posting personal information online is “safe”

> Nearly half (48%) of teens 13-17 said that it is “somewhat” to “very unsafe” to share personal information online.

> 23% of 13-15s said that it is “very unsafe” to share personal information compared to only 12% of 16-17s.

> Still, one out of five said it is “somewhat” or “very safe” to post personal information on a public blog or networking site.

Question 10: How safe or unsafe do you think it is for someone to have their personal information on a public blog or networking site (like MySpace, Friendster, Xanga, etc.)?

DETAILED FINDINGS

TEENS’ VIEWS ON SAFETY OF SHARING THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLINE

12%

29%

13%

28%

32%

5%

19%

29%

16%

4%

29%

5%

19%C

35%

23%D

31%

3%

20%

30%

3%

14%

34%

17%b

18%

33%

Very Unsafe

SomewhatUnsafe

In the Middle

SomewhatSafe

Very Safe


More than one-third of teens surveyed expressed little concern about other people using their personal information online in undesired ways

> Teens echoed their general concern about internet safety and a majority of 13-17s (62%) here expressed at least some concern about other people using their personal information in undesired ways.

> Also again, more girls and more young teens reported that they were “extremely concerned,” compared to guys and older teens.

> At the same time, 37% said they were “not very concerned” or “not at all concerned.”

> More 16-17s reported low concern (44% bottom-two box) compared to 13-15s (33%).

> More boys than girls said they were fairly unconcerned (44% vs. 32% bottom-two box).

Question 14: How concerned, if at all, are you that someone will use information about you posted online in a way you don’t want them to?

DETAILED FINDINGS

TEENS’ CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE USING THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION

25%

31%

11%

9%

28%

15%

13%

12%C

32%C

8%

13%

35%

17%

8%

33%

17%D

6%

26%

15%A

16%

37%A

31%b

15%

13%B

34%

Not At AllConcerned

Not VeryConcerned

SomewhatConcerned

VeryConcerned

ExtremelyConcerned




>Executive Summary



More younger teens, notably girls, report their parents or guardians have knowledge about what they do online, whereas half of older kids claim free reign

> Not surprising given some of their behaviors (of which their parents or guardians likely wouldn’t approve), about half (48%) of teens 16-17 said their parents or guardians know “very little” or “nothing” about what they do on the internet.

> 23% of 16-17s said their parents or guardians know “a lot” or know “everything.”

> By comparison, 50% of teens 13-15 said their parents or guardians know “a lot” or know “everything” about what they do online.

> 23% of 13-15s said their parents or guardians know “very little” or “nothing.”

> More girls than boys reported that their parents or guardians were knowledgeable about their teen’s internet activities.

> 15% of girls said their parents or guardians knew “everything” vs. 7% of boys.

Question 11: How much do your parents or guardians know about where you go and what you do on the internet?

DETAILED FINDINGS

HOW MUCH TEENS SAY THEIR FAMILIES KNOW ABOUT WHAT THEY DO ONLINE

17%

29%

7%

9%

24%

28%

11%

14%C

34%C

4%

19%

29%

34%D

6%

27%

16%D

8%

22%

15%A

28%

27%

26%c

28%

10%

28%

Nothing

Very Little

Some

A Lot

Everything


> Roughly 30% of 13-17s said their parents or guardians have not spoken to them about the potential dangers of sharing personal information online in the past year.

> This percentage climbs higher especially among older teens (44%).

> Fully 22% of those surveyed reported their parents or guardians have never discussed internet safety with them.

> On the other hand, 36% of teens surveyed reported that their parents or guardians have talked to them “a lot” about online safety and 70% said their parents or guardians have discussed it with them during the past year.

> More girls and younger teens said their parents or guardians have spoken to them “a lot” about this topic, and said that their parents or guardians have done so recently in the past 12 months.

Question 12: Have your parents or guardians talked to you about internet safety?Question 13: In just the past year, have your parents or guardians talked to you about the dangers of sharing personal

information with people on the internet?

DETAILED FINDINGS

IN THE PAST YEAR, HAVE YOUR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS TALKED TO YOU ABOUT POTENTIAL DANGERS OF SHARING PERSONAL

INFORMATION ONLINE?

HAVE YOUR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS TALKED TO YOU ABOUT INTERNET SAFETY?

One out of five 13- to-17-year-olds said their parents or guardians have never spoken to them about internet safety

21%28%

30%

70%

44%C

56%79%D

72%a67%

33%bNo

Yes


15%

40%

19%

30%

22%

42%

36%

34%C

45%c

22%46%D

39%

42%A

44%b

26%BNo

Yes - ALittle

Yes - A Lot


> Teen attitudes about the safety of sharing personal information online are correlated with familial involvement.

> Significantly more 13-17s who reported that they perceived the internet “somewhat” or “very unsafe” also said their parents or guardians had discussed online safety with them “a lot.”

> By the same token, more teens who said that sharing their personal was “somewhat” or “very safe” reported that their parents or guardians had never talked to them about internet safety.

Question 10: How safe or unsafe do you think it is for someone to have their personal information on a public blog or networking site (like MySpace, Friendster, Xanga, etc.)?

DETAILED FINDINGSTeen concerns about internet safety piqued by conversations with families

TEENS’ VIEWS ON SAFETY OF SHARING THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLINE

14%

23%

6%a

23%AB

34%

32%C

16%A

14%

34%

3%

27%BC

29%c

3%

10%

30%

Very Unsafe

SomewhatUnsafe

In the Middle

SomewhatSafe

Very Safe

(A) Discussed Internet Safety A Lot With Family (417)(B) Discussed Internet Safety A Little With Family (483)(C) Have Not Discussed Internet Safety With Family (260)

> Approximately 68% of 13-17s who reported their parents or guardians have not spoken to them about internet safety said that they have a profile on a networking site.

> By comparison, 52% of those surveyed who said their parents or guardians talked to them ‘a lot’ reported having a profile.

> Fewer teens whose parents or guardians have talked to them “a lot” about online safety have an IM name or pictures of themselves on the internet, compared to kids whose parents or guardians have not talked to them at all.

Question 3: Which of the following do you have? Please mark all that apply.

DETAILED FINDINGS

TEENS’ ONLINE EXPERIENCE

Talking about internet safety with parents or guardians helps reduce some teen exposure to potential online risks

45%

54%A

68%A

88%AB

87%A

52%A

65%A

52%

78%

Pictures ofyourselfpostedonline

A profile on anetworking

site

An IMscreen-name


> Though a majority of 13- to 17-year-olds respond to ask who someone is when they receive a message from an unfamiliar person over the internet, more teens who also ignore messages, refuse to reply or chat, and block unknown senders reported that their parents or guardians have talked to them “a lot” about internet safety.

> Additionally, more teens who tell a trusted adult when they receive a message from someone they don’t know are also the same teens who’ve talked to their families “a lot” about sharing personal information online.

Question 7: When someone whose name you don’t recognize contacts you online (email, IM, text, or chat messages), do you usually…[multiple responses permitted]

DETAILED FINDINGSConversations with parents or guardians about internet safety lead to more teens blocking or ignoring messages from people they don’t know and also reporting these occurrences to adults

TEENS’ RESPONSES TO ONLINE MESSAGES FROM SOMEONE THEY DON’T KNOW

(Among those who have received messages online from someone they don’t know – multiple answers permitted from respondents)

3%

22%

53%AB

36%

72%

43%AB

42%

35%C

10%C

74%

42%A

33%A

49%BC

28%

59%BC

24%

69%

37%BCTell a trusted adult

Not tell anyone

Block them fromsending any more

messages

Reply or chat withthe person

Ignore theirmessages

Respond to askwho they are




>Executive Summary



Respondent Profiles: Geographic Region & Urbanicity

Questions 15/16: What state do you live in?Which of the following best describes where you live?

APPENDIX

EAST25%

MIDWEST26%

SOUTH25%

WEST24%

GEOGRAPHIC REGION URBANICITY

23%

47%

26%

29%

23%

47%

29%

23%

48%

28%

30%

45%

29%

50%

21%Rural /SmallTown

Suburbs /Near City

Urban /City


Respondent Profiles: Ethnicity

Question 17: Are you…

APPENDIX

ETHNICITY

6%

7%

75%

6%

7%

9%

8%

11%

73%

13%

9%

69%

9%12%

9%

71%

14%

75%b

7%

11%Other

Hispanic/Latino

Black/ AfricanAmerican

White/Caucasian


research findings march 2006

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