New Poll Shows NYC Teens' Online Behavior

By Catherine Patwell May 3, 2016

A new survey shows a discrepancy between what New York City parents think and what teens experience when online using social media, and reveals rampant cyberbullying among middle and high school aged kids.

A new poll of New York City families reveals startling statistics about online behavior and cyberbullying. The survey, conducted by AT&T Digital You and the Tyler Clementi Foundation, asked 1,000 middle school and high school students in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and northern New Jersey about their online habits. It found that a majority are spending at least 3 hours a day socializing online, 48% of youth have experienced cyberbullying firsthand, and 8 in 10 teens know someone who has bee the victim of cyberbullying.

The poll also found a significant gap between parents’ expectations, and children’s experiences with online socializing. With 86% of online socializing takes place in the home, 78% of parents polled said that they have discussed online dangers with their children. However, just 33% of teens said that they have reported inappropriate or mean behavior to their parents. Furthermore, 43% of teens said they would be “terrified” if their parents looked through their smartphones, while 47% of parents said they would never look at their kids’ devices.

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“We must instill in our youth the knowledge that technology is only as good as the people who use it, said Jane Clementi, founder and board member of the Tyler Clementi Foundation. “It can be a wonderful and useful tool, or a weapon of great harm and destruction.”

The Tyler Clementi Foundation was founded in 2011 the parents of New Jersey teen Tyler Clementi, a victim of online bullying. Its mission is to end bullying online, in schools, workplaces, and throughout communities. It promotes inclusive and respectful social environments, better digital citizenship, responsible digital footprints, especially for vulnerable youth, LGBT youth, and their peers.

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