One-quarter (26%) admitted that they were unsure if their child had been a victim: Ipsos Reid
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 – Calgary, AB – A recent study by Ipsos Reid, conducted on behalf of Trend Micro, has found that 7 percent of Canadian parents of children aged 7-17 indicate that their child had been cyber-bullied. Known instances of cyber bullying increase with the age of the child. The prevalence of cyber bullying increases to 11 percent among those aged 16-17. One-quarter (26 percent) of parents stated that they could not be sure if their child had been a victim. This number rises to 34 percent for parents of children between the ages of 13-15. Study author Mark Laver notes, “Cyber-bullying is one of the unintended consequences of the digital age we now live in, the fact that some parents do not know about the online habits of their children is possibly more troublesome. The Internet, smartphones and mobile phones have given children an additional channel to bully their peers.”
Females are more likely to report that their child has been a victim of cyber bullying (9 percent vs. 6 percent for males). Additionally, the incidence of cyber bullying increases as household income decreases.
“While bullying is not a new phenomenon, the Internet has given bullies the ability to amplify their actions through mass communication and to do it from anywhere at any time,” says Lynette Owens, director of corporate outreach for Trend Micro’s Internet Safety for Kids & Families program. “While most kids are not prone to engaging in such behavior, we need to teach all kids to refrain from victimizing others online as much as we need to show them how to be safe online.”
For more information on the survey, please visit: http://trendmicro.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=23
For tips and tools on how to deal with cyber-bullying, please visit: www.trendmicro.com/go/safety.
A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-3.03 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of [insert] in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
About Trend Micro
Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in Internet content security, focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. A pioneer and industry vanguard, Trend Micro is advancing integrated threat management technology to protect operational continuity, personal information, and property from malware, spam, data leaks and the newest Web threats. Visit TrendWatch at www.trendmicro.com/go/trendwatch to learn more about the latest threats. Trend Micro’s flexible solutions, available in multiple form factors, are supported 24/7 by threat intelligence experts around the globe. Many of these solutions are powered by the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ infrastructure, a next-generation cloud-client innovation that combines sophisticated cloud-based reputation technology, feedback loops, and the expertise of TrendLabsSM researchers to deliver real-time protection from emerging threats. A transnational company, with headquarters in Tokyo, Trend Micro’s trusted security solutions are sold through its business partners worldwide. Please visit www.trendmicro.com.
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada’s market intelligence leader and the country’s leading provider of public opinion research. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 300 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in Canada, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and on-line panels. Ipsos Reid’s Canadian marketing research and public affairs practices are staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, offering the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada-including the Ipsos Trend Report, the leading source of public opinion in the country-all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, visit www.ipsos.ca.