Cyberbullying Public Awareness Research 2024

FINAL REPORT

Prepared for Public Safety Canada

 

Supplier name: Environics Research Group

Contract number: 0D160-25-2003

POR Registration Number: POR 028-24

Contract date: August 12, 2024

Report date: December 5, 2024

Fieldwork dates: September 30 to October 14, 2024

Ce rapport est aussi disponible en français

For more information on this report:

ps.communications-communications.sp@canada.ca

 

Cyberbullying Public Opinion Research 2024
Final Report

Prepared for Public Safety Canada by Environics Research

December 2024

Permission to reproduce

This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from Public Safety Canada. For more information on this report, please contact Public Safety Canada at: ps.communications-communications.sp@canada.ca

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, 2024

Cat. No. PS4-251/2024E-PDF

ISBN 978-0-660-74812-2

Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre Recherche sur la sensibilisation à la cyberintimidation 2024 – rapport final

Table of Contents

Executive Summary. 1

Political neutrality statement and contact information. 4

Introduction. 5

Detailed Findings. 6

I.     Safety and technology. 6

II.    Perceptions of cyberbullying. 11

III.   Experiencing cyberbullying. 17

IV.   Witnessing cyberbullying. 28

V.    Perpetrating cyberbullying. 33

VI.   Responding to cyberbullying. 36

Appendix A: Methodology. 41

Appendix B: Quantitative research instruments. 44

VII.  Youth Questionnaire. 44

VIII. Parents’ Questionnaire. 58

 

Executive Summary

1.      Background and objectives

Public Safety Canada (PS) wants to better understand how to effectively prevent and address cyberbullying. In Spring 2019, Cyberbullying Public Awareness Research was conducted to serve as a baseline measurement of Canadian youth and parents of youth in terms of their knowledge, experience, awareness, attitudes and behaviours with respect to cyberbullying. That information was used to develop and implement a multi-year public awareness campaign on cyberbullying. In March 2021, Public Safety developed a website and other communication materials that included resources on cyberbullying and information about where to get help if someone was experiencing cyberbullying. Starting in FY21-22, the campaign combined its resources with the Online Child Sexual Exploitation initiative due to interchangeable topics and a shared youth audience. The aim was to establish a lasting approach, leading to the creation of an in-person and virtual school roadshow for grades 7 and 8.

During the fourth year of funding in FY21-22, PS conducted a second program of Public Opinion Research to assess changes in Canadians' knowledge, awareness, and behaviors regarding cyberbullying. This aimed to compare results to the 2019 baseline and measure the impact of the marketing campaign over the preceding years.

This research study conducted in the Fall of 2024 aims to measure the extent to which there have been any shifts in Canadian youth's and parents of youth’s knowledge, awareness and behaviours about cyberbullying, in comparison to the findings from the survey conducted in 2019 and 2022. POR findings will also determine if Canadian youth and parents of youth are now more aware of where to get help if they are dealing with cyberbullying. In this case, the two target audiences are Canadian youth aged 14 to 24, as well as parents of youth between the ages of 10 and 24.

Research findings will support future policy and communications plans and activities regarding public awareness, and will help determine where the cyberbullying campaign could potentially shift focus in coming years.

2.      Methodology

Environics Research conducted two online surveys of Canadians between September 30 and October 14, 2024. The first survey was with 801 youth aged 14 to 24, and the second survey was of 604 parents with children between 10 and 24 years of age. Quotas were set by age, gender and region and the data were weighted to ensure the sample is representative of these populations according to the most recently available Census information.

As an online survey is a non-probability sample, no margin of sampling error is reported. This size of sample provides robust data to understand behaviours, opinions and attitudes within the total population and sub-groups of interest for parents and youth. More information about the methodology for this survey is included in Appendix A.

3.      Cost of research

The cost of this research was $90,371.75 (HST included).

4.      Key findings

Youth and their parents are feeling increasingly less safe online as the years progress. Parents and youth are not always aligned about which social media applications and communication tools youth are using, or where cyberbullying is occurring.

Safety and technology. The proportion of youth who consider themselves safe while online has decreased over the years, with just over one-quarter of youth feeling this way. A similar pattern is emerging among parents, who have always been more likely to deem various locations unsafe compared to their children. This is especially true when it comes to their children being online, where just over one in ten parents personally feel their children are safe.

While perceptions of safety are shifting, the amount of time youth spend online has remained unchanged since 2022. On average, youth continue to spend about six hours online, with one-third reporting that they use the internet for social interaction at least once an hour. YouTube and Instagram remain the most commonly used social media platforms among youth, though usage of YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitch has increased since 2022. While these trends are reported by youth, parents do not seem to align with this increase in usage of these specific platforms.

Majorities of youth continue to report mostly positive experiences with online social activities such as texting, messaging, gaming, and using social media. Youth who play video games are particularly more likely to view the activity as a positive experience, following a sharp decline in 2022.

Perceptions of cyberbullying. General awareness of cyberbullying has remained consistent since 2022, though in 2024 more youth report being very aware of cyberbullying, with nearly seven in ten expressing this. Among youth, being very aware of cyberbullying is associated with more frequent internet use and being in the older age cohort of 18-24. Anglophone youth are more likely than Francophone youth to say they are very aware of cyberbullying, while Francophone parents are more likely than Anglophone parents to express awareness of the issue.

Although a majority of youth (seven in ten) report learning about cyberbullying from their school or teachers, this proportion has declined since 2022. Similarly, youth are less likely to learn about cyberbullying from ads or PSAs. Racialized youth are among the most likely to have learned about cyberbullying through news stories.

The perception that cyberbullying is a serious problem for young people in Canada has stayed statistically consistent with 2022 levels but has declined compared to 2019.

·       Girls (youth) and women (parents) continue to be more likely than boys and men to view cyberbullying as a very serious issue.

·       Notably, Francophone parents continue to express more concern about cyberbullying compared to Anglophone parents, though this pattern is not reflected among youth

Large majorities of both youth and parents continue to believe that cyberbullying is widespread and affects many young people. They also continue to believe that victims of cyberbullying are most often perceived as physically unattractive, gay/lesbian, transgender/gender diverse, or are racialized or female. However, since the first wave of research in 2019, both youth and parents have become increasingly likely to mention young men and boys as probable victims of cyberbullying.

Most youth and parents continue to believe that cyberbullying is at least mostly illegal in Canada, a perception that has remained steady across previous waves. Both Francophone youth and parents, as well as those in Quebec, are more likely to say that cyberbullying is illegal.

Experiences of cyberbullying. The proportion of youth who report being cyberbullied has increased over the past two years, with nearly four in ten now saying they have experienced it. Despite this rise among youth, parents are generally less likely to report that their children have ever been cyberbullied. When asked about the age at which their child was first cyberbullied, more parents now indicate that their child was between 14 and 17 years old. Equal proportions of parents (about four in ten) say they learned about their child being cyberbullied either when their child came to them right away or when they were told long after the bullying had begun. Parents whose child came to them immediately are more likely to be female.

Regarding where cyberbullying occurs, youth are increasingly likely to mention Snapchat, Discord, and TikTok as platforms where it happens. However, despite youth reporting such, parents do not appear to be more aware that cyberbullying is taking place on these platforms.

The most common types of cyberbullying continue to involve name-calling and negative comments about physical appearance. Compared to 2022, the proportion of youth reporting name-calling has decreased, while negative comments about physical appearance have increased. The occurrence of receiving sexually explicit messages as a form of cyberbullying has also risen since 2022. It is important to note that while both negative comments about appearance and sexually explicit messages have increased, parents of cyberbullied youth are not more likely to report these forms of bullying.

Additionally, cyberbullied youth are now more likely to report that the person who bullied them was a stranger on the internet or an anonymous individual.

The impact of being cyberbullied has remained steady compared to previous waves, as have the actions taken in response. Youth who sought support or reported their experience are most likely to say they felt 'supported,' 'like someone was on their side,' and 'understood.'

Concerns about being cyberbullied in the future have increased among youth since 2022, with nearly twice as many youth who have never been cyberbullied expressing strong concern about it. This trend has not changed among parents.

While seven in ten parents say that none of the top-used social media apps and communication methods are safe from cyberbullying, over two in ten youth consider YouTube and text messaging/WhatsApp to be safe.

Witnessing cyberbullying. Almost half of youth have witnessed cyberbullying directed at someone else, a trend that has increased since 2022. Youth who have witnessed cyberbullying are significantly more likely to say the perpetrator was a stranger on the internet.

When reflecting on the incidents they witnessed, half of youth report that name-calling was involved, although this has decreased since 2022. They are now more likely to mention witnessing negative comments about a physical disability. Youth between the ages of 18 and 24 are more likely than younger youth to have witnessed negative comments about race or ethnicity, gender identity, health conditions, and physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities.

Perpetrating cyberbullying. Over one in ten youth admit to having cyberbullied someone or being accused of cyberbullying, a proportion that has increased since previous waves. Notably, youth who have been cyberbullied themselves are more likely to say they may have engaged in cyberbullying in the past compared to those who haven’t experienced cyberbullying. Similarly, parents of children who have been cyberbullied are more likely to believe their child may have cyberbullied someone themselves. This pattern also holds when parents are asked about their concerns regarding their child potentially cyberbullying someone, with those expressing greater concern often having children who have cyberbullied in the past.

Youth who may have cyberbullied, along with their parents, are more likely to report the bullying was directed at a stranger on the internet or an anonymous person, a trend that has significantly increased since previous waves.  

Responding to cyberbullying. When youth are asked what they would do in a hypothetical situation if they were being cyberbullied now, they are more likely to say they would block the cyberbully or talk to a parent.  Compared to 2022, fewer youth say they would block the cyberbully or talk to a friend about it. Significantly fewer youth also say they would ignore it and not respond. At the same time, the proportion of youth who say they would contact the police to report it has increased, with over one in ten who say they would do this.

•                     Youth who have been cyberbullied before say they would directly confront the cyberbully, while those who have never been cyberbullied say they would talk to a parent or school authorities about it.

While concern is slightly greater among parents, majorities of youth and parents feel that cyberbullying can have long-term consequences for victims and that it is a growing problem. Compared to 2022, fewer parents say that we do not take cyberbullying seriously enough. Despite this, they also are less likely to think it would be taken very seriously if they reported cyberbullying to the authorities.

The vast majority of parents and youth continue to be unaware of any specific helplines or websites to turn to for support on cyberbullying, regardless of whether the family has experienced cyberbullying or not.

Political neutrality statement and contact information

I hereby certify as senior officer of Environics that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, and Procedures for Planning and Contracting Public Opinion Research. Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.

Derek Leebosh

Vice President, Public Affairs

Environics Research Group

derek.leebosh@environics.ca

(416) 820-1963

Supplier name: Environics Research Group

Contract number: 0D160-25-2003

Original contract date: August 12, 2024

For more information, contact ps.communications-communications.sp@canada.ca.

 

Introduction

1.      Background

In recent years, as online communication technologies have become increasingly ubiquitous, cyberbullying has emerged as a major issue in Canada. In 2019, Public Safety Canada conducted baseline public opinion research in order to obtain a baseline measurement of target audiences of Canadians’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours about cyberbullying, as well as to better understand how to prevent and address cyberbullying, while helping Canadians learn how to get help to deal with this issue. Results indicated that almost all Canadians surveyed knew what cyberbullying was, but often did not know where to get help. 

Since the time of that baseline survey, a marketing campaign was launched with the objective to raise awareness of where youth and caregivers can get the help they need to deal with cyberbullying and to help empower young people to take action to protect themselves and others from cyberbullying. In March 2021, PS developed a website (Canada.ca/cyberbullying) for parents, caregivers, educators, and youth that included resources about cyberbullying and information about where to get help if someone was experiencing cyberbullying. Public Safety conducted a tracking survey in the Fall of 2022 to assess changes in Canadians' knowledge, awareness, and behaviors regarding cyberbullying. This compared results to the 2019 baseline and measure the impact of the marketing campaign over the preceding years.

Two years later, this wave in 2024 will ensure consistent assessment of shifts in awareness, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour compared to prior surveys and help determine if more Canadians now know where to get help if they are dealing with the issue of cyberbullying.  

2.      Research rationale and objectives

Public Safety Canada would like to conduct Public Opinion Research in order to measure any shifts in Canadians’ knowledge, awareness, and behaviours about cyberbullying, in comparison to the 2019 and 2022 Cyberbullying Public Awareness survey. The findings will also determine if more Canadians now know where to get help if they are dealing with the issue of cyberbullying. In this case the two target audiences are Canadian youth, aged 14 to 24, as well as parents of youth who are between the ages of 10 and 24.

The research findings support future policy and communications plans and activities regarding public awareness and will help determine where the cyberbullying campaign could potentially shift focus in coming years. The data will also support future policy and communications plans and activities regarding public awareness and will help determine where the cyberbullying campaign could potentially shift focus in coming years.

3.      Report

This report begins with an executive summary outlining key findings and conclusions, followed by a detailed analysis of the results. A detailed description of the methodology used to conduct this research is presented in Appendix A. The research instruments are presented in Appendix B.

Detailed Findings

I.                   Safety and technology

1.                  Perceptions of safety by location

Less than one-third of youth say they feel very safe when online and just over one in ten parents feel that their children are very safe online. Feeling safe online has decreased over the years.

When asked about how safe they personally feel in various places, the majority of both groups reported feeling very safe at home. However, this sense of safety has decreased among youth over the years. In fact, feelings of safety at school, in the workplace, walking alone in the neighbourhood, and while online have lessened over the years among youth.

Parents have similar perceptions of their children’s safety at home, at school and in their workplace. However, fewer parents feel their children are very safe when online compared to youths’ perception of their own safety. Since 2022, parents are much more likely to consider their children unsafe while online.

Impressions of youth safety by location

* Excluding respondents who indicate category does not apply to them

Youth – Q1.          To what extent do you personally feel safe in each of these places?

Parents – Q1.       To what extent do you personally feel that your children are safe in each of these places?

Among youth, the following demographic groups are more likely to feel very safe while online:

·       Men/Boys (35% vs. 24% among women/girls)

·       Anglophones (31% vs. 21% of Francophones)

Younger youth, between the ages of 14-17, are more likely to feel at least somewhat safe online compared to youth who are older than them. The youngest cohort (age 14-17) is more likely to feel safe at school or at home, compared to those aged 18-24. Youth who are still in school are more likely to feel safe online than those who are not in school.

Later in the survey, youth were asked in two separate questions whether they have ever been cyberbullied before, or whether they may have done something that is considered cyberbullying to somebody else. Youth who indicated that they have not experienced being cyberbullied feel safer online than those who have been cyberbullied. Also more likely to feel safer online are those who may have been perpetrators of cyberbullying.

Male parents are more likely than female parents to feel their children are very safe while online. Feeling that their child(ren) are at least somewhat safe when online is highest among those 50+ and with older kids (18-24). Later in the survey, parents were asked if their child had experienced cyberbullying. Parents who say their child(ren) have never been cyberbullied are more likely to consider their children at least somewhat safe online

2.                  Time spent online

Youth are spending as much time online as they were in 2022.

Six in ten youth (60%) report spending over five hours each day online, statistically consistent to 2022. The average amount of time spent online now still stands at six hours.

Hours each day spent online

Youth – Q2.          About how many hours a day would you say that you spend online?

Youth who are likely to spend more time than the average of 6 hours includes those 18 and older, those university educated and/or who are not currently in school. Later in the survey, youth were asked whether they had ever experienced or perpetrated cyberbullying themselves. Youth who say they have been cyberbullied in the past are more likely to spend more time than the average online. This is also true of youth who say they may have perpetrated cyberbullying. Also spending more time online than average include youth with disabilities. In all cases, spending more time online than average is linked with having online social interactions at least hourly.

Spending less time online (less than 5 hours) is more prevalent among youth aged 14-17, currently in high school, and typically not working. This group is likely to be at least somewhat aware of cyberbullying, although they have never experienced it themselves.

3.                  Use of internet for social interactions

The majority of youth continue to report using the internet several times a day for social interaction, with one-third using it constantly.

Nine in ten youth report that they use the internet for social interaction such as texting, messaging or chatting hourly/constantly (35%) or several times a day (55%). Since 2022, youth are more likely to say they use the internet several times a day, than constantly. Parents have similar perceptions of their children’s online social behaviour.

 

Use of internet for any social interaction

Youth – Q3.            How often do you use the internet for any social interaction (such as texting, messaging or chatting online with friends or acquaintances, gaming, or sharing on social media)?

Parents – Q2.         How often do your children use the internet for any social interaction (such as texting, messaging or chatting online with friends or acquaintances, gaming, or sharing on social media)?

Among youth, the following demographic groups are more likely to use the internet at least hourly for social interactions:

·       Residents of the Prairies (43%) and Quebec (38%)

·       Those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (49%)

Youth who use the internet at least hourly for social interactions are also more likely to be very aware of cyberbullying and who have been cyberbullied themselves. This group is also more likely to have witnessed cyberbullying.

Parents who are more likely to indicate their children use the internet at least hourly includes those who are:

·       50 or older (41% vs. 32% under 50)

·       College/Appr/Trades educated (46%) compared to those with less or more education.

·       Have young adults aged 18-24 (47%) (vs. 29% of those with younger children and teens aged 10-17)

Parents who indicated that their child is on the internet at least hourly are also more likely to report that their child has been cyberbullied.

4.                  Use of social media sites and apps

YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are the most commonly used social media applications among youth. Use of YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Twitch are increasing.  

Seven in ten or more youth continue to report using Instagram and YouTube in the past week. Since 2022, youth report using YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Twitch more frequently. Reddit, Twitch and Tumblr are used by a minority of youth.

Perceptions among parents are not always in line with youth’s reported social media usage when it comes to the majority of social media sites and apps. For example, while eight in ten youth report using YouTube in the last month, just six in ten parents say the same about their children. While over seven in ten youth report using Instagram in the last week, just over half of parents say the same.  

Use of social media sites or apps in the past week

Youth – Q4.          Which of the following online social media sites or apps have you used in the last week?

Parents – Q3.       As far as you know, which of the following online social media sites or apps do your children use?

( - ) Note: Not prompted in that year.

( * ) Note: ‘Text messaging’ and ‘WhatsApp’ were separate categories before 2024. ‘Xbox Live’ and ‘PlayStation Network were separate categories before 2024.

Among youth:

·                Girls are more likely than boys to report using TikTok, Snapchat and text messaging/WhatsApp. Boys are more likely than girls to report using Discord, gaming systems, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and Twitch. Tumblr is somewhat higher among youth who identify as gender diverse.  

·                Youth between 18-24 years old are more likely to report using Instagram, Discord, X and reddit. Those in the older range (22-24) are more likely than those younger than them to use Twitch and Snapchat. Younger youth aged 14-17 are more likely to report using gaming systems such as Xbox Live and PlayStation.

·                Geographically, Facebook is used the most in Quebec. Discord and gaming systems are highest in the Prairies. Use of Reddit is highest in BC.

·                Francophones are more likely to use Facebook; while Anglophones are more likely to text message/WhatsApp and use Discord, gaming systems, X, Reddit and Tumblr.  

·                Those who have been cyberbullied are more likely to identify TikTok, Snapchat, text messaging/WhatsApp, Discord, gaming systems, X and Reddit as their most used social media sites/communication tools – this is in line among those who say they have witnessed cyberbullying.

·                Those who spend more time online (at least hourly) are more likely to use Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

·                Racialized youth are more likely than those who are not racialized to use Instagram. Indigenous youth are more likely to use TikTok and X.  Youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are among the likeliest to use Discord and Tumblr.

Parents with kids aged 18-24 are more likely than those with younger children to indicate that their kids use most types of social media sites or apps.

5.                  Experience of online social activities

Most youth continue to report mostly positive experiences with online social activities, such as texting and messaging, gaming and using social media.

Asked to rate their experience with certain online social activities, eight in ten youth say that their experiences texting and messaging are at least mostly positive, seven in ten when gaming, and six in ten when using social media. Youth who indicate they play video games are significantly more likely to view the activity as a positive experience compared to 2022. The proportion of gamers expressing this sentiment is now closer to the 2019 benchmarks, suggesting a sharp decline in 2022.

Impression of online social activities

* Excluding respondents who indicate category does not apply to them

Youth – Q5.          To what extent have each of the following online social activities (such as chatting with friends, gaming, and using social media), been a positive or negative experience for you?

Groups more likely to consider texting and messaging a positive experience include those aged 14-17, living with parents, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+.

Gaming is more likely to be considered a positive experience among boys/men, those aged 14-17, Francophone, and/or those with a cognitive disability.

Using social media is more likely to be considered a positive experience among youth aged 14-17, those who are  Francophone and/or those living with parents. It is also a more positive experience among those who are not part of an equity group and among those who have never experienced or witnessed cyberbullying.

Older youth (18+) are more likely to say that any of the online activities have been a generally negative experience for them.  

II.                Perceptions of cyberbullying

1.                  Awareness of cyberbullying

Over nine in ten youth and parents are at least somewhat aware of cyberbullying and are increasingly reporting they are very aware of it.

The proportions of youth and parents who say they are generally aware of cyberbullying are similar to those found in 2019 and 2022. That said, youth are now more likely to state they are very aware of it, when compared to 2022. Results among parents have stayed steady with previous waves of research.

Awareness of cyberbullying

Youth – Q6.          How aware would you say you are of “cyberbullying”? Are you?

Parents – Q4.       How aware would you say you are of “cyberbullying”? Are you?

Among youth, the following demographic groups are more likely to be very aware of cyberbullying:

·                Aged 22-24 (70% vs. 63% younger youth)

·                Anglophones (67% vs. 58% of Francophones)

Those who use the internet at least hourly are also more likely to say they are very aware of cyberbullying, as are those who have been cyberbullied or have witnessed cyberbullying. Youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are also more likely to say they are very aware of cyberbullying.

Parents who are residents of Quebec and Francophone are more likely to say they are very aware of cyberbullying. This is also true of parents who have witnessed cyberbullying.

2.                  Sources of information about cyberbullying

Youth are still most likely to learn about cyberbullying from school or teachers, although less so than they were in 2022. Youth are less and less likely to say they learned about cyberbullying from ads or PSAs.

Seven in ten youth are more likely to learn about cyberbullying from school or teachers. Four in ten youth are likely to learn about the topic from their parents, news stories or from friends or people they know who have been cyberbullied. Since 2019 and continuing through 2024, smaller proportions of youth report learning about cyberbullying from ads or public service announcements. They also increasingly mention learning about cyberbullying as a result of having experienced it. Other sources of information have remained steady since 2022.

Sources of information about cyberbullying

Youth – Q7.          Where and how have you learned about cyberbullying?

Among youth:

·                Girls are more likely than boys to learn about cyberbullying from friends/people they know who have been cyberbullied and ads or PSAs about it.

·                Youth under 18, and likely still in high school, are more likely than those older than them to have learned about cyberbullying from their school/teachers or their parents.

·                Youth who do not live with their parents are more likely than those who do to learn about cyberbullying from friends/people who have experienced it, or through their own personal experiences with cyberbullying.

·                Anglophone youth are likelier than Francophones to learn about cyberbullying from news stories and/or from friends or people they know who have been cyberbullied.

·                Youth who say they have never cyberbullied someone are more likely than those who may have to have learned about it from school, teachers, or parents.

·                Racialized youth are more likely than those who are not to say they learned about cyberbullying from news stories about it; youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are more likely to have learned through from personally cyberbullying, or through others who have experienced similar.

 

3.                  Perception of seriousness of cyberbullying

The perception of cyberbullying as a serious problem for young people in Canada remains high, with over six in ten youth and more than seven in ten parents sharing this view

Asked to rate how much of a problem cyberbullying is for young people in Canada, most youth consider it to be a very serious problem, with two-thirds giving it a seven or more on a scale from zero to 10, steady since 2022. That said, holding the view that cyberbullying is a serious problem has lessened among youth since 2019. Fewer than one in ten say it is not much of a problem. Parents continue to be more likely than youth to say that cyberbullying is a serious problem.

How much of a problem cyberbullying is perceived to be

Youth – Q8.          How much of a problem do you think cyberbullying is for young people in Canada?

Parents – Q5.       How much of a problem do you think cyberbullying is for young people (i.e. 10 to 24-year-olds) in Canada?

Among youth, those more likely to view cyberbullying as a very serious problem (8-10 on the scale) include women/girls (55% vs. 43% of boys), those very aware of cyberbullying (57% vs. 32% less aware) as well as those who have experienced being cyberbullied (60% vs. 42% who haven’t) or witnessed it (57% vs. 41% who haven’t).

Parents who are more likely rate cyberbullying as a very serious problem (8-10 on the scale) include women (64% vs. 53% men), Francophones (69% vs. 55% Anglophones) and those who are very aware of cyberbullying (67% vs. 48% less aware). Parents of children with a disability, or whose child has been cyberbullied, are more likely to view cyberbullying as a very serious problem compared to parents of children without a disability or those whose child has never been cyberbullied.

4.                  Perceptions of frequency of cyberbullying

Large majorities of youth and parents continue to believe that cyberbullying is everywhere, or is at least pretty common and affects a lot of young people.

Youth and parents have similar perceptions of the frequency with which young people experience cyberbullying. About two in ten believe that cyberbullying is everywhere and almost everyone experiences it, and over half say that cyberbullying is a common occurrence which affects many young people. About two in ten parents and youth say that it occurs occasionally affecting a minority of young people, leaving very few who say that cyberbullying is quite rare.

Perceptions of the commonality of cyberbullying among youth and parents are consistent with 2022 findings.

Perception of frequency of cyberbullying

Youth – Q9.          How common do you think it is for young people to experience cyberbullying?

Parents – Q6.       How common do you think it is for young people to experience cyberbullying?

Among youth:

·                The groups more likely to hold the belief that cyberbullying is pretty common or ‘everywhere’ and affects a lot of people includes among girls (vs. boys), youth aged 21 and younger (vs. those older than them) and/or in high school (vs. those who are not in high school). This is also more common among those who are very aware of cyberbullying, have experienced or witnessed it themselves and identify as either 2SLGBTQIA+ or having a disability.

·                Strongly feeling that cyberbullying is everywhere and almost everyone experiences it is more likely among those not in school currently and or/ who are online at least hourly. Individuals who hold this belief are also more likely to have been cyberbullied and/or witnessed it.

·                Boys are more likely than girls to say that cyberbullying is quite rare and only affects a very small number of young people. This is also more common among those who have never experienced or witnessed cyberbullying, and who do not belong to an equity group.

·                The belief that cyberbullying happens occasionally and affects a minority of young people is more prominent among those with university degrees than those without, Anglophones (vs. Francophones) and those who are somewhat aware of cyberbullying, though have never experienced or witnessed it. This belief is also more common among Racialized youth, compared to those who are not.

Parents who indicate being very aware of cyberbullying are more likely to believe that cyberbullying is everywhere and almost everyone experiences it. This belief is also stronger among parents whose child(ren) have experienced, witnessed or perpetrated cyberbullying themselves, compared to those who haven’t.

5.                  Perceptions of more likely cyberbullying victims

Youth and parents continue to believe that victims of cyberbullying are mostly likely to be those perceived as physically unattractive, gay/lesbian, transgender/gender diverse, young women or girls or are racialized.

When asked to consider specific categories of young people who are likely to be victims of cyberbullying, around four in ten youth each list those who are perceived to be physically unattractive or over- or under-weight, and people who are gay or lesbian, or transgender/gender diverse people. Parents are less likely to think that people who identify as gay or lesbian, transgender/gender diverse, people of colour/racialized and/or with a mental health-related disability are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying. Parents are more likely than youth to say that everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied, but is notable that both parents and youth are less and less likely to think that everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied.

Categories of young people more likely to be victims of cyberbullying

Youth – Q10.        What specific categories of young people do you think are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying?

Parents – Q7.       What specific categories of young people do you think are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying?

( - ) Note: Not prompted in that year.
(*) Note: Category wording changed in 2024 from ‘People with a mental illness’ in previous waves.
(**) Note: Category wording changed in 2024 from ‘People with a learning disability’ in previous waves.

Among youth:

·                Girls and boys are equally likely to feel that the prompted categories are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. However, boys are more likely to say that young men or boys are more likely to be victims of cyberbullying, while girls are more likely to say that everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied.

·                Youth aged 14-17 are more likely than older youth to say that everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied. Those 18-24 are more likely than those younger than them to say that those with a mental health-related, cognitive, sensory disability or chronic health conditions are more vulnerable to being cyberbullied.

·                Youth who are working are more likely than those who are not to mention individuals who identify as gay or lesbian, or those with a sensory disability or chronic health conditions, as being more likely to be cyberbullied

·                Youth who are online hourly point to people who are physically unattractive as more likely to be victims of cyberbullying. Those who have been cyberbullied are more likely to point to people with chronic health conditions as being vulnerable to cyberbullying. Those who say they may have perpetrated cyberbullying report individuals with a physical or sensory disability or with chronic health conditions as being likely victims of cyberbullying.

Mothers (vs. fathers), Francophones (vs. Anglophones) and/or those who say they are very aware of cyberbullying are more likely to say that everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied. Anglophone parents are more likely than Francophone parents to mention young men or boys as likely victims. Parents who have children who have been cyberbullied are more likely (than those who do not) to mention young men or boys, people with chronic health conditions or with a sensory disability as being likely victims of cyberbullying.  

6.                  Perceptions of legality of cyberbullying

Most youth and parents continue to believe that cyberbullying is at least mostly illegal in Canada.

Two-thirds of youth believe cyberbullying is at least mostly illegal in Canada – steady since 2022 but a drop since the first time it was measured in 2019. Three-quarters of parents continue to believe that cyberbullying is at least mostly illegal. Two in ten of both parents and youth indicate they do not know. 

Impression of illegality of cyberbullying

Youth – Q11.        As far as you know is cyberbullying legal or illegal in Canada?

Parents – Q8.       As far as you know is cyberbullying legal or illegal in Canada?

Among youth, those more likely to say that cyberbullying is illegal include:

·                Aged 14 to 17 (59%, vs. 32% of those 18 -24)

·                Youth in Quebec (56%)

·                Francophones (58% vs. 38% of Anglophones)

·                Youth currently in school (47% vs. 25% not in school) and not working (47% vs. 39% who are working)

·                Not belonging to an equity group (47%)

It is also notable that the belief that cyberbullying is illegal is lower among who identify as 2SLGBTQI+ and those with a disability (compared to those who are not part of these groups).

Like youth, parents who are Francophone and/or in Quebec are also more likely to say that cyberbullying is illegal. This is also true of parents who are 50 or older and residents in the Atlantic.

III.             Experiencing cyberbullying

1.                  Personal experience

Almost four in ten youth have personally been cyberbullied – an increase since 2022. Just under two in ten parents report that any of their children have been cyberbullied.

The proportion of youth who say they have been cyberbullied has risen over the last two years, with almost four in ten now saying they have experienced this. Despite this increase among youth, parents are directionally less likely to report their children have ever been cyberbullied.

Experience being cyberbullied

Youth – Q12.        Have you ever personally been cyberbullied?

Parents – Q10.     Have any of your own children aged 10 to 24 ever been cyberbullied?

Youth who are mostly likely to have been cyberbullied include:

·                Women/girls (41% vs. 33% Men/boys)

·                Aged 18-24 (41% vs. 32% aged 14-17)

·                Anglophones (40% vs. 28% Francophones)

·                Youth who are online hourly or more frequently (45%).

·                2SLGBTQIA+ youth (66%)

·                Youth with a disability (64%)

It is also notable that youth who say they have perpetrated cyberbullying are also likely to say they have been cyberbullied as well.

Anglophone parents (20%) are more likely to say their children have been cyberbullied. This is also true of parents whose child has a disability or identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+.

2.                  Age and gender of cyberbullied children

Parents of youth who have been cyberbullied most often say their child(ren) was 14-17 years old when it first happened.

Among parents whose child(ren) have been cyberbullied, one-third say their children were aged 10-13 and over half say their children were aged 14-17. The proportion who report the latter have significantly increased since 2022. There has been a drop in the proportion of parents who report that their child was 10 to 13 when first cyberbullied. Compared to 2022, parents are equally likely to mention either man/boy or woman/girl to describe the gender of the cyberbullied child. The half who say man/boy and six in ten who say woman/girl is consistent to the previous wave of research.

Age and gender of cyberbullied children

Parents – Q11A.                 How old was your child when they were first cyberbullied?*

Parents – Q11B.                 How old were each of your children when they were first cyberbullied?*

Parents – Q11C.                 What is the gender(s) of your child(ren) who was cyberbullied?

(*) Note: Question wording modified in 2024 to include ‘first.’

(**) Note: Gender categories modified in 2024 from Male gender, Female gender and Gender diverse in earlier waves.

3.                  Concern about being cyberbullied

Half of youth who have never been cyberbullied continue to be at least somewhat concerned that it could happen to them and more and more are very concerned about this. Eight in ten parents are at least somewhat concerned about their children being cyberbullied.

Half of all youth who have never personally been cyberbullied are very or somewhat concerned that this could happen to them in the future. Concerns about being cyberbullied in the future have increased among youth since 2022, with nearly twice as many youth who have never been cyberbullied saying they are very concerned about it.

Eight in ten parents are at least somewhat concerned that their children may be cyberbullied in the future. Levels of concern among parents has remained steady since 2022.

Concern about future cyberbullying

Youth – Q12a.      How concerned are you about ever being cyberbullied in the future? Are you…? (ASKED ONLY OF YOUTH WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN CYBERBULLIED)

Parents – Q9.       How concerned are you that your own children might ever be cyberbullied? Are you…?

Youth aged 14-21 are more likely to be very or somewhat concerned about being cyberbullied in the future (54% vs. 41% of those aged 22-24). Anglophones are more likely to be at least somewhat concerned (54% vs. 39% Francophones).  

Parents who are more likely to be somewhat or very concerned about their children being cyberbullied include those under 35, with kids under 18, with daughters and whose children identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.

4.                  When cyberbullying was last experienced

Most youth who have been cyberbullied experienced it over a year ago, however almost three in ten have experienced it between one to three months ago. Most parents also report that their children were cyberbullied over a year ago.

Youth who have been cyberbullied were asked when they last experienced it. Less than one in ten say it happened within the last week or month each. One third say it happened between one month to a year ago.

Recency of cyberbullying experience

Youth – Q13.        When was the last time you were cyberbullied? Was it…?

Parents – Q12.     When was the last time any of your children were cyberbullied? Was it…?

Boys and youth who have witnessed or perpetrated cyberbullying are more likely to report having been cyberbullied within the last week.

5.                  How parents found out about their children being cyberbullied

Four in ten parents say they found out about cyberbullying from their child right away. Another four in ten say they found out long after it began.

Consistent with 2022, four in ten parents say they found out about their child being cyberbullied because their child told them about it right away, or long after it began and two in ten found out from other sources.

How parents found out about children being cyberbullied

Parents – Q13.     When your child(ren) was cyberbullied, which of the following best describes how you found out about it?

Parents who say their child came to them right away are more likely to be female (49% vs. 31% male) and very aware of cyberbullying (49%).

6.                  Platforms where youth experienced cyberbullying

Youth are most likely to be cyberbullied on Instagram and Facebook and increasingly on Snapchat, Discord and TikTok.

Since 2022, youth have become increasingly more likely to mention being cyberbullied on Snapchat, Discord and TikTok. Youth are also more likely to mention YouTube as a platform where they’ve experienced cyberbullying, though this is only expressed by a minority of one in ten. Despite this being the case, parents are more likely to think cyberbullying is happening on Instagram, though youth are not more likely than before to mention Instagram as a site where they’ve experienced bullying. Parents do not appear to be more aware that cyberbullying is happening on Snapchat, Discord and TikTok, despite what youth are reporting and an increasing proportion of parents do not know where their children have been cyberbullied. Youth are least likely to report X and Tumblr as platforms where they have been cyberbullied.

Platforms where cyberbullying was experienced

Youth – Q14.        Where have you been cyberbullied?

Parents – Q14.     As far as you know, where or on what platform was your child(ren) cyberbullied?
( - ) Note: Not prompted in that year.

(*) Note: ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘Text messaging’ were separate categories before 2024. ‘PlayStation Network’ and ‘Xbox Live’ were separate categories before 2024.

·                Girls are more likely to report being cyberbullied on Instagram, Snapchat, text messaging/WhatsApp and TikTok. Boys are more likely than girls to mention Discord and gaming systems.

·                Youth aged 18–21 are more likely to mention Instagram compared to those younger (14–17) or older (22–24).

·                Anglophones are more likely than Francophones to mention Discord.

7.                  Platforms considered safe

Youth are most likely to consider YouTube and text messaging/WhatsApp as the safest social media apps and communication tools. Many youth and most parents feel that no platforms are safe.

Across all prompted social media apps and communication methods, cyberbullied youth are more likely than parents to consider them safe. In fact, seven in ten parents of cyberbullied youth say that none of them are safe, while four in ten youth think the same. About one-quarter of youth say that YouTube and text messaging/WhatsApp are safe. Parents are most likely to consider YouTube and Facebook safe, though only a minority of one in ten say so.

Platforms considered safe

Youth/Parents – Q14b.      In terms of cyberbullying, which of the following social media apps and communications methods do you consider safe?

Among youth, girls are more likely to consider text messaging/WhatsApp safe while boys are more likely to consider Discord and Twitch safe. Francophone youth are more likely to consider Facebook safe, while Anglophones consider text messaging/WhatsApp safe.

Male parents are more likely to consider Facebook safe while female parents are more likely to say that none are safe.

8.                  Type of cyberbullying experienced

The most common types of cyberbullying continue to involve name-calling and negative comments about physical appearance. Youth are increasingly experiencing private information published publicly.

Youth who were cyberbullied are still more likely to experience name-calling, followed by negative comments about physical appearance, physically threatening messages and sexually explicit messages. Compared to 2022, name-calling has lessened in proportion among youth, while negative comments about physical appearance have increased. Receiving sexually explicit messages as a form of cyberbullying has also increased in prominence since 2022. It is notable that while both negative comments about physical appearance and sexually explicit methods have increased, parents of cyberbullied youth are not themselves more likely to report that.

Parents and youth are aligned on name-calling when it comes to cyberbullying experiences. They are not, however, aligned on several other experiences, including negative comments about physical appearance or weight, physically threatening messages, negative comments about race or ethnicity, and so on.

Types of cyberbullying experienced

Youth – Q15.        When you were cyberbullied, which of the following did you experience?

Parents – Q15.     When your child(ren) were cyberbullied, which of the following did they experience?

( - ) Note: Not prompted in that year.
(*) Note: Category wording modified in 2024 from ‘People with a mental illness’ in previous waves.
(**) Note: Category wording modified in 2024 from ‘People with a learning disability’ in previous waves.

Among youth:

·                Girls are more likely than boys to say they experienced negative comments about their physical appearance and health conditions, as well as sexually explicit messages.

·                Anglophones are more likely than Francophones to experience name-calling as a form of cyberbullying.

·                Youth who identify as racialized are more likely to mention negative comments about their race/ethnicity, compared to those who are not racialized.

·                Youth who identify as having a disability are more likely than those who do not to encounter negative comments about their mental health-related or cognitive disability, or sexual orientation.   

·                Youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are more likely to say they encounter sexually explicit messages, physically threatening messages, and negative comments about their gender identify and sexual orientation.        

9.                  Relationship to cyberbully

Cyberbullied youth increasingly report the person who cyberbullied them was a stranger on the internet or an anonymous individual and are less likely to know the cyberbully.

Since 2022, more youth mention their cyberbully as having been a stranger on the internet, with over four in ten reporting this. At the same time, cyberbullied youth are less likely to mention it was someone from school, or a friend/former friend. Consistent proportions of youth who have experienced cyberbullying say it was someone they know online, an acquaintance, current/past romantic partner, family member or someone they work with.

Relationship to person(s) who cyberbullied

Youth – Q16.        What relationship did you have with the person(s) who cyberbullied you?

(*) Note: In 2024, wording was modified to include ‘stranger on the Internet.’

 

Boys who have been cyberbullied are more likely than girls to say the perpetrator was a family member. Youth aged 14-17 and currently in high school and living with parents are more likely to say the cyberbully was someone from school. Youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are likelier than other youth to say the perpetrator was a stranger on the internet or anonymous.

10.             Emotional impact of cyberbullying

Six in ten youth who have been cyberbullied say it was a very hurtful experience; eight in ten parents say it was a very hurtful experience both for their child and for themselves.

When asked how much cyberbullying bothered them, on a scale where zero means it didn’t bother them at all, and 10 means bothered a lot, six in ten youth and eight in ten parents rated it bothered them a lot (between 7-10). The amount at which youth/parents say it has ‘bothered them a lot’ has remained statistically.  

 

 

 

Hurtfulness of being cyberbullied

Youth – Q17.        On a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means that the experience of being cyberbullied didn’t bother you at all and 10 means that being cyberbullied bothered you a lot, how would you say being cyberbullied affected you?*

Parents – Q17.     How would you say being cyberbullied affected your child(ren)? Use a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means that the experience of being cyberbullied didn’t bother your child at and 10 means that being cyberbullied bothered them a lot.*

(*) Note: Wording in 2024 modified slightly from ‘hurtful experience that really shook you up’ to ‘bothered you a lot.’

Girls are much more likely to say being cyberbullied bothered them a lot (49% vs. 38% among boys), as are Francophones (57% vs. 41% Anglophones). Youth who are online at least hourly are also more likely to say it bothered them a lot, as well as those with a cognitive disability.

Female parents are more likely than male to say the cyberbullying bothered their child(ren) a lot.

Impact of cyberbullying on parents

Parents – Q16.     How would you say your child(ren) being cyberbullied affected you personally? Use a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means that the experience of your child being cyberbullied didn’t bother you at all and 10 means that your child being cyberbullying bothered you a lot..

(*) Note: Wording in 2024 modified slightly from ‘hurtful experience that really shook you up’ to ‘bothered you a lot.’

Mothers are more likely than fathers to describe the experience of their children being cyberbullied as bothering them a lot. Parents who have a post-graduate degree are most likely to feel this compared to those who do not, as well as those whose children have a disability.

11.             Actions taken in response to being cyberbullied

Youth continue to most frequently respond to cyberbullying by blocking the bully, or talking to a friend or parent about it. Parents of kids who have been cyberbullied continue to be most likely to respond by talking to their kids and being supportive.

When youth are cyberbullied, they say they most commonly respond by blocking the perpetrator, talking to a friend or to a parent about it, or ignoring and doing nothing. Responses after being cyberbullying are consistent to 2022.  

Girls who were cyberbullied are more likely to block the cyberbully or talk to a friend or parent about it. Boys, on the other hand, are likelier than girls to ignore it and do nothing. Youth aged 14-17 and currently in high school are more likely to talk to a parent about it, than the other age groups.

Actions taken by youth in response to cyberbullying

Youth – Q18.        What did you do in response to being cyberbullied, if anything?

( - ) Note: Not prompted in that year.

When asked what they did in response to their child(ren) being cyberbullied, six in ten parents say that they talked to their child about it and tried to be supportive – a proportion that is statistically similar to 2022. A smaller proportion of just less than three in ten say they talk to a teacher or school authorities, showed child how to block cyberbully and kept records of incident. Since 2019, parents are somewhat more likely to mention contacting the police as a response to their child(ren) being cyberbullied. Female parents are more likely to try to talk to their child and be supportive or confronted the parents of the cyberbully, as a response. Parents aged 35 and younger are also more likely to talk to/confront the parents of the cyberbully. Parents of children with disabilities are more likely to show their child how to block the cyberbully.

Actions taken by parents in response to cyberbullying

Parents – Q18.     What did you do in response to your child being cyberbullied, if anything?

12.             Impact of taking action against cyberbullying

Youth who responded to cyberbullying by reporting it or talking to someone are most likely to have had positive feelings afterwards, such as feeling supported and understood.

When asked how they felt after being cyberbullied and talking to someone or reporting the experience, most youth chose positive words such as 'supported', ‘understood’, 'like someone was on my side', ‘heard’, and believed.’ Smaller proportions chose more negative words such as being ‘alone’, ‘judged’ or ‘blamed.’

Girls are more likely than boys to say they felt supported, understood, and judged. Compared to those older than them and not in school, youth aged 14-17 and currently in high school are more likely to say they felt supported, like someone was on their side, understood, heard, believed and empowered.

Feeling after telling somebody/reported cyberbullying experience

Youth – Q18b.      We’d like to know more about how you felt after you told someone about / reported your cyberbullying experience(s). Which of the following words describe how the person you told about the cyberbullying made you feel?*

* Swanek, J., Karasavva, V, Sohail, R., Moller, S., & Forth, A. (nd), Experiences with Online Sexual Behaviours, Reporting, and Related Outcomes. Manuscript in preparation.

Most youth and parents say the cyberbullying stopped after they took action, similar to both waves of research.

When asked what happened after steps were taken in response to being cyberbullied, seven in ten youth and parents say that the cyberbullying stopped in response to their actions. One-quarter say the cyberbullying continued or got worse; these findings are essentially unchanged from 2022.

Response of cyberbully to actions

Youth – Q19.        What happened after you took these steps in response to being cyberbullied?

Parents – Q19.     What happened after you took these steps in response to your child being cyberbullied?

IV.            Witnessing cyberbullying

1.                  Witnessed cyberbullying directed at others

Half of youth report witnessing cyberbullying directed at others and this is on the increase.

Almost half of youth have witnessed cyberbullying directed at someone else, increasing in prominence since 2022. Less than one-quarter of parents say they have witnessed this, a proportion that is unchanged since 2022.

Witnessed cyberbullying directed at someone else

Youth – Q20.        In the past year, have you ever witnessed any cyberbullying that was not directed at you? (i.e. you heard about or saw it happen to someone else)?

Parents – Q20.     In the past year, have you ever witnessed any cyberbullying that was directed at young people other than your own children? (i.e. you heard about or saw it happen to another kid)?

Among youth, those who are 14-17 are less likely than those older to say they have ever witnessed cyberbullying that was not directed at them. Youth who are online at least hourly are likely to have witnessed something, as well as those have been cyberbullied before or perpetrated it themselves.

2.                  Relationship to person witnessed being cyberbullied

Youth most often witnessed cyberbullying happening to a friend, someone at school or increasingly to a stranger on the internet. Parents are most likely to have witnessed it towards a child of a friend or a friend of their child.

When asked about their relationship with the person they witnessed being cyberbullied, one-third of youth say it was either a friend/former friend or a stranger/anonymous person on the internet. Since 2022, youth who have witnessed cyberbullying are significantly more likely to say it was a stranger on the internet. They are however less likely to say it was an acquaintance.

Youths’ relationship to person being cyberbullied

Youth – Q21.        At the time of the most recent incident, What relationship did you have to the person(s) who you witnessed being cyberbullied? (Note: Question wording slightly modified from previous waves)

(*) Note: In 2024, wording was modified to include ‘stranger on the Internet.’

Boys and are more likely than girls to have witnessed cyberbullying happen to an acquaintance or current or past romantic partner. Compared to older youth and not in high school, youth aged 14-17 and currently in high school are more likely to have witnessed it happening to a friend/former friend or someone at school.

Youth who do not live with their parents are more likely to have witnessed cyberbullying towards a stranger/anonymous person on the internet, someone they know online, or an individual they work with. Youth who do live with their parents are more likely to have witnessed cyberbullying happening to a friend/former friend or someone they know at school.  

Among parents who witnessed a young person other than their child being cyberbullied, one-quarter saw it happen to a child of one of their friends and another quarter saw it happen to a friend of one of their children. Since 2022, fewer parents who have witnessed cyberbullying have seen it at their kids’ school.

Parents’ relationship to person being cyberbullied

Parents – Q21.     What relationship did you have to the young person(s) who you witnessed being cyberbullied?

(-) Note: Not prompted in that year.

3.                  Type of cyberbullying witnessed

Youth continue to most likely witness cyberbullying involving name-calling or negative comments about physical appearance.

When reflecting on when they witnessed someone being cyberbullied, half of youth say it involved name-calling. Four in ten say it involved negative comments about physical appearance, and three in ten say it involved physically threatening messages. Despite being at the top of the list, youth in 2024 are much less likely to mention witnessing name-calling and have become more likely to mention witnessing negative comments about a physical disability. While less than one in ten reported this in 2022, almost two in ten did so this year.

What was involved in cyberbullying witnessed

Youth – Q22.        As far as you know, what was involved in the cyberbullying you witnessed?

(-) Note: Not prompted in that year.

(*) Note: Category modified in 2024 from ‘People with a mental illness’ in previous waves.

(**) Note: Category wording modified in 2024 from ‘People with a learning disability’ in previous waves.

Girls are more likely than boys to have witnessed negative comments about physical appearance. Youth who are between 18 and 24 are more likely than those younger than them to have witnessed negative comments about race or ethnicity, gender identity, health conditions and physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities. Anglophones youth are more likely than Francophones to have witnessed name calling, or negative comments about race or ethnicity.

4.                  Action taken after witnessing cyberbullying

Youth who have witnessed cyberbullying most commonly respond by talking to and supporting the victim, or talking to friends about it. Parents were more likely to take the opportunity to talk to their own child about cyberbullying. These results are consistent with 2022.

After witnessing or hearing about someone being cyberbullied, over three in ten youth talked to the victim and tried to be supportive, and a similar proportion talked to friends about it. Around two in ten ignored it and did nothing, directly confronted the cyberbully or talked to a parent about it. Results remain consistent to 2022.

Girls who witnessed cyberbullying are more likely than boys to talk to the victim and try to be supportive; boys are more likely to talk to a teacher or school authorities about it. Younger youth (14-17)) are more likely to talk to friends or a parent about it. Older youth (22-24) are more likely to ignore it and do nothing or talk to a personal care provider or support worker. Youth currently in high school are most likely to talk to the victim to be supportive or talk to a parent about the cyberbullying they witnessed.

Anglophone youth who witnessed cyberbullying are more likely to talk to the victim to be supportive or a teacher/school authorities while Francophone youth are more likely to talk to friends about it.

Actions taken by youth who witnessed cyberbullying

Youth – Q23.        When you witnessed or heard about someone being cyberbullied what, if anything, did you do?

(-) Note: Not prompted in that year.

Parents who witnessed cyberbullying were, again, more likely to react by talking to their own child about cyberbullying or, to a lesser extent, talk to the child who was bullied and tried to be supportive.   

Actions taken by parents who witnessed cyberbullying

Parents – Q22.     When you witnessed or heard about someone being cyberbullied what, if anything, did you do?

V.               Perpetrating cyberbullying

1.                  Frequency of reported perpetration of cyberbullying

Over one in ten youth admit to having cyberbullied someone or to having been accused of cyberbullying – a proportion that has increased since previous waves. Very few parents report that their own children have perpetrated cyberbullying.

Since 2019, an increasing proportion of youth report having personally done something that could be considered cyberbullying. At the same time, a consistently small proportion of parents (4%) report being aware of any of their own children engaging in behavior online that could be considered cyberbullying.

Perpetrating cyberbullying

Youth – Q24.        Have you ever personally done anything to someone online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying or where you were accused of cyberbullying?

Parents – Q24.     As far as you know, have any of your children ever done anything to someone online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying or where they were accused of cyberbullying?

Older youth (18-24) are more likely than those younger to say they may have personally done something to someone online that could be considered cyberbullying. This is also true for youth with a post-graduate degree, compared to those without, and for those who are currently working, compared to those who are not.

It is also notable that those who say they have been cyberbullied themselves are more likely than those who haven’t to say they may have perpetrated cyberbullying in the past. Aligned with that, parents of children who have been cyberbullied are likely to say that their child may have perpetrated cyberbullying themselves.

2.                  Concern about children committing cyberbullying

Four in ten parents are at least somewhat concerned that their child might perpetrate cyberbullying in the future.

Parents are increasingly concerned about their child(ren) doing something online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying. Just over four in ten say they are very or somewhat concerned. Just under six in ten are not very or not at all concerned.

Concern over child cyberbullying in future

Parents – Q23.     How concerned are you that one of your own children might ever do something to someone online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying? Are you…?

Parents who are 34 or younger are generally concerned that their own child may do something to someone online that could be considered cyberbullying, while older parents (50+) say they are not concerned. Anglophone parents are more likely than Francophone parents to be very concerned of this, as well as those who have children 17 or younger, and/or who are racialized. Those who express more concern are also parents of children who themselves have cyberbullied in the past.

3.                  Relationship to victim

Youth who may have cyberbullied are more likely than before to have done it to a stranger on the internet/ anonymous person as opposed to a friend or school mate.

Among youth who say they may have cyberbullied someone, over one third say it was done to a stranger on the internet or person was anonymous. Both parents and youth are significantly more likely to report that this was the case and have become directionally less likely to say it was a friend/former friend or someone from school.

Relationship to cyberbullying victim

Youth – Q25.        What relationship did you have to the person(s) who you may have cyberbullied?

Parents – Q25.     What relationship did your child have to the person(s) who you may have cyberbullied?

(-) Note: Not prompted in that year.
(*) Note: Category modified in 2024 to include ‘stranger on the Internet.’

4.                  Why did they do it?

The most common reasons for cyberbullying is that they didn’t know any better at the time or acted out of anger/in response to people being mean.

Among youth who may have cyberbullied someone, just over one in ten say they didn’t know any better at the time, a result that is consistent to previous years.

Reasons for committing cyberbullying

Youth – Q26.        Thinking about this incident where you may have cyberbullied someone, why did you act this way? (Note: wording slightly modified in 2024)

Parents who say their child may have committed cyberbullying are more likely (than parents who do not say this) to indicate they confronted their child or disciplined them.

Actions taken by parents in response to their child cyberbullying

Parents – Q26.    Thinking about this incident where your child may have cyberbullied someone, what did you do about it? (Note: wording slightly modified in 2024)

VI.            Responding to cyberbullying

1.                  Preferred response to cyberbullying

If being cyberbullied, youth are more likely to block the cyberbully or talk to a parent about it. If their child(ren) was being cyberbullied, parents are most likely to talk to their child and be supportive or keep records of incidents.

When youth are asked what they would do in a hypothetical situation if they were being cyberbullied now, they are more likely to say they would block the cyberbully or talk to a parent. Compared to 2022, fewer youth say they would block the cyberbully or talk to a friend about it. Significantly fewer youth also say they would ignore it and not respond. At the same time, the proportion of youth who say they would contact the police to report it has increased, with over one in ten who say they would do this.

When parents are asked what they would do if their child was cyberbullied, two-thirds say they would talk to their child about it and try and be supportive, and half would keep records of incidents and show their child how to block the cyberbully. Compared to 2022, parents are less likely to report it to the site where it happened, keep records of the incidents, or learn about website and app privacy settings. Fewer parents also say they would go online to find out what they ought to do.

Responses to cyberbullying

Youth – Q27.        If you were being cyberbullied now, how do you think you would respond?

Parents – Q27.     If one of your children were being cyberbullied, how would you respond?

( - ) Note: Not prompted in that year.

Among youth:

·                Girls are more likely than boys to say they would block the cyberbully, talk to a friend about it, report it to the site where it happened, keep records of accidents, directly confront the cyberbully, and learn about website and app privacy settings. Boys are more likely to ignore it and not respond or talk to a teacher/school authorities about it.  

·                Youth under 18 and are more likely to say they would block the cyberbully, talk to a parent, a friend or school authorities about it; youth aged 18 and older are more likely to say they would ignore it and not respond or directly confront the cyberbully. Youth aged 22-24 are more likely to report it to an employer or to human resources.

·                Compared to Anglophone youth, youth in Quebec and who are Francophone are more likely to say they would keep records of incidents.

·                Youth who are online at least hourly are more likely to say they would ignore it and not respond.

·                Youth who have been cyberbullied before say they would directly confront the cyberbully, while those who have never been cyberbullied say they would talk to a parent or school authorities about it.

·                Those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and who have a disability are most likely to block the cyberbully as a response.

2.                  General attitudes toward cyberbullying

While concern is slightly greater among parents, majorities of youth and parents feel that cyberbullying can have long-term consequences for victims and that it is a growing problem. Youth increasingly feel comfortable talking about cyberbullying with teachers and increasingly feel confident it will be taken seriously if reported.

Close to nine in ten youth agree that cyberbullying can have long term consequences for victims; eight in ten say it is a growing problem and that most people who are cyberbullies get away with it. Since 2022, however, fewer youth say most people who are cyberbullies get away with it. Increasing proportions of youth say that (if they were being cyberbullied) they would feel very comfortable discussing it with their teachers, and that if they reported it to authorities, they’d feel very confident it would be taken seriously.  

Among parents, over nine in ten say that cyberbullying is a growing problem and can have long term consequences for victims. Compared to 2022, fewer parents say that we do not take cyberbullying seriously enough. Despite this, they also are less likely to think it would be taken very seriously if they reported cyberbullying to the authorities.

 

 

 

 

Perceptions of cyberbullying – Youth

Youth – Q28.        To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about cyberbullying?

(–) Note: Not prompted in that year.

(*) Note: Categories were combined in waves before 2024.

Among youth:

·                Girls are more likely to agree that most people who are cyberbullies get away with it and that we do not take cyberbullying seriously enough. Boys are more likely to feel confident that if they were being cyberbullied and took steps to deal with it, the problem would go away.  

·                Younger youth who 14-17 years old are more likely than those in older cohorts to agree with all the statements. Similarly, those in high school and who live with their parents are likely to agree with most of these statements.

·                Those who have experienced being cyberbullied are more likely to believe that cyberbullying is a growing problem and that we do not take It seriously enough. Those who have not been cyberbullied are more likely than their counterparts to feel comfortable discussing it with their parents, and confident that if they reported it to the authorities, it would be taken very seriously.

·                Youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ are more likely to feel that cyberbullying is not taken seriously enough.

Perceptions of cyberbullying – Parents

Parents – Q28.     To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about cyberbullying?

(–) Note: Not prompted in that year.

(*) Note: Categories were combined in waves before 2024.

Among parents, mothers are more likely than fathers to feel that cyberbullying can have long-term consequences for victims, is a growing problem, and that parents do not have enough information on how to deal with it when it happens. Parents who have children who have been cyberbullied are more likely (than those who do not) to feel that the issue is not taken seriously enough.  

3.                  Awareness of resources about cyberbullying

The vast majority of parents and youth continue to be unaware of any specific helplines or websites to turn to for support on cyberbullying.

As was the case in previous waves of research, close to nine in ten youth and over nine in ten parents are not aware of any specific helplines or websites that offer support for those who have been cyberbullied. Among the small minority who are aware of any helplines or websites, some mention Kids Help Phone, the police, Tel-jeune and bullyingcanada.ca.

Resources about cyberbullying

Youth – Q29.          If you or someone you knew was being cyberbullied, are there any specific help lines or websites you know of where you could turn to for support?

Parents – Q29.     If your child or someone you knew was being cyberbullied, are there any specific help lines or websites you know of where you could turn to for support?

There are no significant demographic differences among youth or parents in terms of awareness of any help lines or websites. It is notable that youth who have been cyberbullied and parents whose children have been cyberbullied are no more likely to be aware of these supports than those who have not experienced cyberbullying.

 

Appendix A: Methodology

This research consisted of two online surveys. The first was conducted among Canadian youth aged 14 to 24, with a total sample of 801 respondents. The second survey was conducted among parents of youth aged 10 to 24 and had a total sample of 604 respondents.

Survey respondents were selected from registered members of an online panel. Since the samples used in online panel surveys are based on self-selection and are not a random probability sample, no formal estimates of sampling error can be calculated. Although opt-in panels are not random probability samples, online surveys can be used for general population surveys provided they are well designed and employ a large, well-maintained panel.

Sample design and weighting

Environics Research conducted online surveys of Canadians who are members of an online panel, from September 30 to October 14, 2024. The sampling method was designed to complete interviews with 800 Canadians aged 14-24 and 600 interviews with parents of children aged 10 to 24. Quotas and weights were set by age, gender, and region.

To get feedback from younger respondents, invitations were sent to panellists profiled as parents, who were asked for permission to have their children aged 17 and younger complete the survey themselves.

The following distribution of interviews was achieved:

*Results are weighted by region, gender and age to 2022 Census data.

Questionnaire design

Environics worked with PS to develop two 10-minute online questionnaires that were largely based on the questionnaires that were used in the baseline survey conducted in 2019 and 2024, with minor modifications to account for relevancy. By maintaining consistency in the questionnaires, we can measure changes in levels of awareness, opinions, attitudes and behaviours on the subject of cyberbullying and compare results from the previous public awareness research report. Upon approval of the English questionnaires, Environics arranged for  any new questions to be translated into French by professional translators and for French versions of the questionnaires to be created.

Note that during the questionnaire, youth were asked whether they identified as belonging to an equity group, such as being racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, or having a disability. Parents were also asked whether their children belonged to any of these groups. If youth did not identify as belonging to any of these specified groups, they are referred to in the report as youth who do not belong to an equity group.

Environics’ data analysts programmed the questionnaires, then performed thorough testing to ensure accuracy in set-up and data collection. This validation ensured that the data entry process conformed to the surveys’ basic logic. The data collection system handles sampling invitations, quotas and questionnaire completion (skip patterns, branching, and valid ranges).

The final survey questionnaire is included in Appendix B.

Fieldwork

The survey was conducted by Environics using a secure, fully featured web-based survey environment. The interviews took place from September 30 to October 14, 2024. The median interview length was 10 minutes.

All respondents were offered the opportunity to complete the surveys in their official language of choice. All research work was conducted in accordance with the Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research – Online Surveys and recognized industry standards, as well as applicable federal legislation (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA).

The data from this survey are statistically weighted to ensure the sample is as representative of this population as possible according to the most recently available Census information.

Completion results

The completion results are presented in the following table.

Contact disposition

Respondent profile

The following table presents the weighted distribution of survey participants by key demographic and other variables.

 

Appendix B: Quantitative research instruments

VII.         Youth Questionnaire

Landing Page

Please select your preferred language for completing the survey / SVP choisissez votre langue préférée pour remplir le sondage.

1   English / Anglais

2    Français / French

The information collected through the research is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act, legislation of the Government of Canada, and to the provisions of relevant provincial privacy legislation.

Introduction

Welcome to this survey about young Canadians’ online experiences, including cyberbullying. This survey is intended for persons aged 14 to 24 years old. Environics Research, an independent research company, is conducting this survey on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Your participation is voluntary, and your answers will remain anonymous. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.

The survey is best completed on a computer or a tablet. If you are completing this survey on a smart phone, please turn the device to landscape (horizontal/sideways) mode so that all questions display correctly.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Derek Leebosh of Environics Research at derek.leebosh@environics.ca.

Please click on >> to continue.

Section 1: Screening

D1. How old are you?

Numeric dropdown (<10 to >80). 

IF D1 is between 14 and 24, GO TO D2. 

IF D1 less than 14, TERMINATE AND THANK 

IF D1 more than 24, THANK AND REDIRECT TO SCREENING FOR PARENTS SURVEY 

D2. What is your gender? 

1         Man/Boy 

2         Woman/Girl 

3         I identify as another gender (specify) 

4         Prefer not to say 

D3. What province or territory do you live in? 

          Province/territory drop-down list 

D4. To ensure we include people from all parts of Canada, what are the first three characters of your postal code? 

          FSA open end 

Section 2: Safety

Q1. To what extent do you personally feel safe in each of these places? 

Randomize. Carousel. 

       A   At school 

       B   At home 

       C   In your workplace 

       D   While online 

       E   Walking alone in your neighbourhood 

1         Not at all safe 

2         Not very safe 

3         Somewhat safe 

4         Very safe 

5         Does not apply 

6         Prefer not to say 

Section 3: Technology

Q2. About how many hours a day would you say that you spend online? 

       Numeric open end: hours 

Q3. How often do you use the internet for any social interaction (such as texting, messaging or chatting online with friends or acquaintances, gaming, or sharing on social media)? 

1            Hourly or more often/constantly 

2            Several times a day 

3            About once a day 

4            A few times a week 

5            Once a week or less 

6            Never 

7            Prefer not to say 

Q4. Which of the following online social media sites or apps have you used in the last week? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1          Facebook 

2          Text messaging/WhatsApp 

3          Instagram 

4          Snapchat 

5          X (formerly Twitter) 

6          YouTube 

7          Twitch 

8          Discord 

9          Reddit 

10       Gaming systems (Xbox Live, PlayStation, Steam, etc..)  

11       Tumblr 

12       TikTok 

13       Somewhere else (specify)                                 Anchor 

14       I don’t use any of these sites or apps                   Anchor. Exclusive 

        99    Prefer not to say                                             Anchor. Exclusive 

 Q5. To what extent have each of the following online social activities (such as chatting with friends, gaming, and using social media), been a positive or negative experience for you? 

Randomize. Carousel. 

       A   Gaming 

       B   Using social media 

       C   Texting and messaging 

Rotate scale 

1         Totally positive 

2         Mostly positive 

3         An equal mix of positive and negative 

4         Mostly negative 

5         Totally negative 

6         Does not apply/never do it                    Anchor 

7         Prefer not to say                                   Anchor 

Section 4: Perceptions of Cyberbullying

The following questions are about the issue of cyberbullying. In this survey, “cyberbullying” refers to the use of computers, smart phones, and other devices to embarrass, harass, threaten, torment, or humiliate someone. 

Cyberbullying includes: 

·       Teasing, name-calling, flaming or bashing individuals 

·       Spreading rumours, private information (including intimate pictures), or fake information online 

·       Harassment, threatening messages, stalking, or pretending to be someone 

Q6.     How aware would you say you are of “cyberbullying”? 

Rotate scale 

1         Very aware 

2         Somewhat aware 

3         Not very aware 

4         Have never heard of it before                  SKIP TO Q. 8 

5         Prefer not to say                                         Anchor 

Q7.     Where and how have you learned about cyberbullying? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize. 

1         From personally experiencing cyberbullying 

2         From friends or people I know online who have been cyberbullied 

3         From school or teachers 

4         From ads or public service announcements about it 

5         From news stories about it 

6         From my parents 

7         Other (specify)                             Anchor 

8         8 Prefer not to say                       Anchor 

ASK ALL 

Q8. How much of a problem do you think cyberbullying is for young people in Canada? 

       Insert horizontal scale. Rotate scale. 

  0 = Cyberbullying is not much of a problem at all 

10 = Cyberbullying is an extremely serious problem 

 00 Prefer not to say                           Anchor 

Q9. How common do you think it is for young people to experience cyberbullying? 

Rotate scale 

1         Cyberbullying is quite rare and only affects a very small number of young people 

2         Cyberbullying happens occasionally and affects a minority of young people 

3         Cyberbullying is pretty common and affects a lot of young people 

4         Cyberbullying is everywhere and almost everyone experiences it 

5         Prefer not to say                          Anchor 

Q10.   What specific categories of young people do you think are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Young men or boys 

2         Young women or girls 

3         Transgender or gender diverse people 

4         People that identify as gay or lesbian 

5         People who are physically unattractive, over or underweight        

6         People of colour/racialized people 

7         People with a sensory disability (seeing or hearing) 

8         People with a physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain) 

9         People with a cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory) 

10     People with a mental health-related disability 

11     People with chronic health conditions, episodic, or temporary disabilities   

12     Other types of people not identified above (specify)             Anchor

13     Everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied                       Anchor. Exclusive 

14     Prefer not to say                                                                       Anchor. Exclusive 

Q11.   As far as you know is cyberbullying legal or illegal in Canada? 

1            Cyberbullying is illegal 

2            Cyberbullying is mostly illegal, but it depends on what it consists of 

3            There are no laws against cyberbullying. It is legal. 

4            Don’t know 

5            Prefer not to say 

Section 5: Experiencing Cyberbullying

In this section of the questionnaire, you will be asked a set of questions about personal cyberbullying experiences you may have had. If at any point you feel uncomfortable providing your feedback, feel free not to answer a question or to step away. 

The objective of this study is to gather valuable insights and data to improve actions taken by the Government of Canada to address cyberbullying. By answering the following questions, you will contribute to a deeper understanding of the current challenges and help identify potential solutions for cyberbullying prevention and intervention. 

Q12.   Have you ever personally been cyberbullied? 

1            Yes, I have                                    SKIP TO Q13 

2            No, never                                     Ask Q 12a, then Skip to Section 6 

3            Prefer not to say                        Ask Q 12a, then Skip to Section 6 

Q12a. How concerned are you about ever being cyberbullied in the future? 

1            Very concerned 

2            Somewhat concerned 

3            Not very concerned 

4            Not at all concerned 

5            Prefer not to say                        Anchor 

Q13.   When was the last time you were cyberbullied? 

1         Within the last week 

2         Within the last month 

3         One month up to three months ago 

4         Three months to a year ago 

5         More than a year ago 

9     Don’t remember 

99   Prefer not to say            Anchor 

Q14.   Where have you been cyberbullied? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1          Facebook 

2          Text messaging/WhatsApp 

3          Instagram 

4          Snapchat 

5          X (formerly Twitter) 

6            YouTube 

7            Twitch 

8            Discord 

9            Reddit 

10        Gaming systems (Xbox Live, PlayStation, Steam, etc..)  

11        Tumblr

12        TikTok 

13        Somewhere else (specify)                       Anchor 

99        Prefer not to say                                       Anchor. Exclusive 

Q14b.   In terms of cyberbullying, which of the following social media apps and communications methods do you consider safe? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1          Facebook 

2          Text messaging/WhatsApp 

3          Instagram 

4          Snapchat 

5          X (formerly Twitter) 

6          YouTube 

7          Twitch 

8          Discord 

9          Reddit 

10       Gaming systems (Xbox Live, PlayStation, Steam, etc..)  

11       Tumblr 

12       TikTok 

13       None are safe                              Anchor 

         99   Prefer not to say                          Anchor 

Q15.   When you were cyberbullied, which of the following did you experience? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Name-calling 

2         Physically threatening messages 

3         Sexually explicit messages 

4         Private information posted publicly (including intimate photos) 

5         Negative comments about your race or ethnicity 

6         Negative comments about your sexual orientation 

7         Negative comments about your gender identity 

8         Negative comments about your physical appearance 

9         Negative comments about your sensory disability (seeing or hearing) 

10     Negative comments about your physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain) 

11     Negative comments about your cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory) 

12     Negative comments about your mental health-related disability 

13     Negative comments about your health conditions (chronic, episodic, or temporary) 

98   Other (specify)               Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say            Anchor. Exclusive 

Q16.   At the time of the most recent incident, what relationship did you have with the person(s) who cyberbullied you? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Friend/former friend 

2         Acquaintance 

3         Family member 

4         Stranger on the Internet or person was anonymous 

5         Someone I knew online 

6         Current or past romantic partner 

7         Someone from school 

8         Someone I work with 

98   Other (specify)               Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say            Anchor. Exclusive 

Q17.   On a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means that the experience of being cyberbullied didn’t bother you at all and 10 means that being cyberbullied bothered you a lot, how would you say being cyberbullied affected you? 

       Insert scale. Rotate scale. 

  0 = Didn’t bother you at all 

10 = Bothered you a lot 

00   Prefer not to say            Anchor 

Q18.   What did you do in response to being cyberbullied? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Ignored it and did nothing                                               Anchor. Exclusive SKIP TO SECTION 6 

2         Kept records of the incidents      

3         Blocked the cyberbully                 

4         Talked to a parent about it                                                    ASK Q. 18b 

5         Talked to a teacher or to school authorities about it        ASK Q. 18b 

6         Talked to a friend about it           

7         Contacted police                                                                     ASK Q. 18b 

8         Learned about website or app privacy settings  

9         Reported it to my employer or to human resources        ASK Q. 18b 

10     Reported the incident to the website or application       ASK Q. 18b 

11     Directly confronted the cyberbully 

12     Went online for advice 

13     Talked to a personal care provider or support worker     ASK Q. 18b 

98   Other (specify)                                                                        Anchor 

99    Prefer not to say                                                                Anchor. Exclusive   SKIP TO SECTION 6 

IF OPTION 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 OR 13 WAS SELECTED, ASK, OTHERS SKIP TO Q19 

Q18b. We’d like to know more about how you felt after you told someone about / reported your cyberbullying experience(s). Which of the following words describe how the person you told about the cyberbullying made you feel? 

Select all that apply. Randomize 

1         Supported 

2         Heard 

3         Understood 

4         Like someone was on my side 

5         Believed 

6         Empowered 

7         Judged 

8         Blamed 

9         Alone 

10     Like it was my fault 

11     Helpless (i.e., inability to act) 

12     Hopeless (i.e., lack of optimism in the future) 

98   Another word (SPECIFY)_____________               ANCHOR 
99   Prefer not to say                                                 ANCHOR. EXCLUSIVE 

Q19      What happened after you took these steps in response to being cyberbullied?

1         The cyberbullying stopped 

2         The cyberbullying continued as before 

3         The cyberbullying got worse 

9     Prefer not to say            Anchor 

Section 6: Witnessing Cyberbullying

Q20.   In the past year, have you ever witnessed any cyberbullying that was not directed at you (i.e. you heard about or saw it happen to someone else)? 

1   Yes 

2   No                                       Skip to Section 7 

9   Prefer not to say              Skip to Section 7 

IF YES 

Q21.   At the time of the most recent incident, what relationship did you have to the person(s) who you witnessed being cyberbullied? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Friend/former friend 

2         Acquaintance 

3         Family member 

4         Stranger on the Internet or person was anonymous 

5         Someone I knew online 

6         Current or past romantic partner 

7         Someone at school 

8         Someone I work with 

98   Other (specify)               Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say            Anchor 

 Q22.   As far as you know, what was involved in the cyberbullying you witnessed? 

        Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Name-calling 

2         Physically threatening messages 

3         Sexually explicit messages 

4         Private information (including intimate photos) posted publicly 

5         Negative comments about race or ethnicity 

6         Negative comments about sexual orientation 

7         Negative comments about gender identity 

8         Negative comments about physical appearance 

9         Negative comments about a sensory disability (seeing or hearing) 

10     Negative comments about a physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain)        

11     Negative comments about a cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory) 

12     Negative comments about a mental health-related disability 

13     Negative comments about a health conditions (chronic, episodic, or temporary) 

97   Other (specify)               Anchor 

98   Not sure                          Anchor. EXCLUSIVE 

99   Prefer not to say            Anchor. EXCLUSIVE 

Q23.   When you witnessed or heard about someone being cyberbullied, what did you do? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Ignored it and did nothing           Anchor. Exclusive 

2         Talked to the victim and tried to be supportive 

3         Talked to a parent about it 

4         Talked to a teacher or to school authorities about it 

5         Talked to friends about it 

6         Contacted police 

7         Learned about website and app privacy settings 

8         Reported it to my employer or to human resources 

9         Directly confronted the cyberbully 

10     Went online for advice 

11     Talked to a personal care provider or support worker 

98   Other (specify)                               Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say                      Anchor. Exclusive 

 

Section 7: Perpetrating Cyberbullying

Q24.   Have you ever personally done anything to someone online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying or where you were accused of cyberbullying? 

1         Yes 

2         No                                     Skip to Section 8 

9   Prefer not to say              Skip to Section 8 

IF YES 

Q25.   At the time of the most recent incident, what relationship did you have to the person(s) who you may have cyberbullied? 

       Select all that apply. 

Randomize 

1         Friend/former friend 

2         Acquaintance 

3         Family member 

4         Stranger on the Internet or person was anonymous 

5         Someone I knew online 

6         Current or past romantic partner 

7         Someone from school 

8         Someone I work with 

98   Other (specify)               Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say            Anchor. Exclusive 

Q26.   Thinking about this incident where you may have cyberbullied someone, why did you act this way? 

Section 8: Responding to cyberbullying – ASK ALL

Q27.    If you were being cyberbullied now, how do you think you would respond? 

Select all that apply 

Randomize 

1         Ignore it and not respond                                                 Anchor. Exclusive 

2         I would not know how to respond or what to do              Anchor 

3         Keep records of incidents 

4         Block the cyberbully 

5         Talk to a parent about it 

6         Talk to a teacher or school authorities about it 

7         Talk to a friend about it 

8         Contact the police to report it 

9         Learn about website and app privacy settings 

10     Report it to the site where it happened 

11     Report it to an employer or to human resources 

12     Directly confronted the cyberbully 

13     Go online for advice 

14     Talk to a personal care provider or support worker 

98   Other (specify)                                                                 Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say                                                            Anchor. Exclusive 

Q28.    To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about cyberbullying? 

Randomize. Carousel. 

A   If I was being cyberbullied and took steps to deal with it, I’m confident the problem would go away. 

B   Cyberbullying is a growing problem 

C   If I was being cyberbullied, I’d feel very comfortable discussing it with my teachers 

D   Most people who are cyberbullies get away with it 

E   We do not take cyberbullying seriously enough 

F   If I was being cyberbullied, I’d feel very comfortable discussing it with my parents 

G   If I reported cyberbullying to the authorities, I’m confident they’d take it very seriously 

H   Cyberbullying can have long-term consequences for victims 

        Rotate scale 

1         Strongly agree 

2         Somewhat agree 

3         Somewhat disagree 

4         Strongly disagree 

9     Not applicable                 Anchor 

99   Prefer not to say             Anchor 

Q29 If you or someone you knew was being cyberbullied, are there any specific help lines or websites you know of where you could turn to for support? 

1         No, I don’t know of any specific help lines or websites 

2         Yes, there is (PLEASE SPECIFY) ________________________ 

9     Prefer not to say 

Section 9: Demographics

To finish up, we’d like to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes only. Please be assured that your answers will remain completely confidential.

D5. Are you currently…?

Select all that apply.

1            In school full-time

2            In school part-time

3            Not a student

D6. Are you currently…?

Select all that apply.

1         Working full-time

2         Working part-time

3         Not working

D7. Which of the following is the highest level of education that you have completed?

1         Less than high school diploma or equivalent/I am still in high school

2         High school diploma or equivalent

3         Trade certificate or diploma (apprenticeship, technical institute, trade or vocational school)

4         College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (other than trades certificates or diplomas)

5         University (undergraduate degree)

6         University (graduate or professional degree)

9    Prefer not to say

D8. Do you currently live with at least one parent or legal guardian?

1            Yes

2            No

9      Prefer not to say

D9. Do you identify as any of the following?

Select all that apply.

1         A racialized minority               

2         First Nation, Inuit, or Metis       

3         2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and the + is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies)   

4         A person with a disability           ASK D10

5         No, none of these                    EXCLUSIVE

IF 4 WAS SELECTED, ASK D10, OTHERS SKIP TO END

D10. You indicated that you are a person with a disability. If you wish to provide further details, select the disabilities that apply to you.

Select all that apply.

1         A sensory disability (seeing or hearing)

2         A physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain)      

3         A cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory)

4         A mental health-related disability

5         A health condition (chronic, episodic, or temporary)

6         Other/Unknown disability

9         Prefer not to say

This completes the survey. On behalf of the Government of Canada, thank you for your valuable input. If you would like to know more about cyberbullying and how to deal with it, please visit  

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cbr-scrt/cbrbllng/index-en.aspx

In the coming months, the results of this survey will be available on the Library and Archives Canada website.

 

VIII.       Parents’ Questionnaire

Landing Page

Please select your preferred language for completing the survey / SVP choisissez votre langue préférée pour remplir le sondage.

1    English / Anglais

2    Français / French

The information collected through the research is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act, legislation of the Government of Canada, and to the provisions of relevant provincial privacy legislation.

Introduction

Welcome to this survey about young Canadians’ online experiences, including cyberbullying. This survey is intended for parents of children between the ages of 10 and 24. Environics Research, an independent research company, is conducting this survey on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Your participation is voluntary, and your answers will remain anonymous. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.

The survey is best completed on a computer or a tablet. If you are completing this survey on a smart phone, please turn the device to landscape (horizontal/sideways) mode so that all questions display correctly.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Derek Leebosh of Environics Research at derek.leebosh@environics.ca.

Please click on >> to continue.

Section 1: Screening

D1. How many children do you have who are between the ages of 10 and 24?

       ______children     

       None                     THANK AND TERMINATE        

D2.  What gender(s) do your children between 10 and 24 identify as?

CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

1   Man/Boy

2   Woman/Girl

3   They identify as another gender (specify)

4   Prefer not to say

D3.  Do you have any children in each of the following age categories?

A   10 to 13 years old

B   14 to 17 years old

C   18 to 24 years old

1.       Yes

2.       No

D4.  Do any of your children between the ages of 10 and 24 identify as any of the following? Select all that apply. 

1         A racialized minority                  

2         First Nation, Inuit, or Metis       

3         2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and the + is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies)

4         A person with a disability           ASK D4b

5         No, none of these                        EXCLUSIVE

IF OPTION 4 WAS SELECTED:
D4b. You indicated that one or more of your children are a person with a disability. If you wish to provide further details, select the disabilities that apply to them.

Select all that apply.

1         A sensory disability (seeing or hearing)

2         A physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain)      

3         A cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory)

4         A mental health-related disability

5         A health condition (chronic, episodic, or temporary)

6         Other/Unknown disability

7         Prefer not to say

D5.  What province or territory do you live in?

            Province/territory drop-down list

D6.  To ensure we include people from all parts of Canada, what are the first three characters of your postal code?

            FSA open end

Section 2: Safety

The following questions refer to your children who are between the ages of 10 and 24.

Q1.  To what extent do you feel that your children are safe in each of these places?

Randomize. Carousel.

         A   At school

         B   At home

         C   In their workplace

         D   While online

         E   Walking alone in their neighbourhood

1         Not at all safe

2         Not very safe

3         Somewhat safe

4         Very safe

5         Does not apply

9    Does not apply

99  Prefer not to say

Section 3: Technology

Q2.  How often do your children use the internet for any social interaction (such as texting, messaging or chatting online with friends or acquaintances, gaming, or sharing on social media)?

1         Hourly or more often/constantly

2         Several times a day

3         About once a day

4         A few times a week

5         Once a week or less

·       Never

·       Don’t know

 Q3.  As far as you know, which of the following online social media sites or apps do your children use? Select all that apply.

Randomize

1          Facebook

2          Text messaging/WhatsApp

3          Instagram

4          Snapchat

5          X (formerly Twitter)

6          YouTube

7          Twitch

·       Discord

·       Reddit

·       Gaming systems (Xbox Live, PlayStation, Steam, etc..)

·       Tumblr

·       TikTok

·       Somewhere else (specify)                                             Anchor

·       My children don’t use any of these sites or apps            Anchor. Exclusive

8          I don’t know what sites or apps my children use             Anchor. Exclusive

99    Prefer not to say                                                 Anchor. Exclusive

Section 4: Perceptions of Cyberbullying

The following questions are about the issue of cyberbullying. In this survey, “cyberbullying” refers to the use of computers, smart phones, and other devices to embarrass, harass, threaten, torment, or humiliate someone.

Cyberbullying includes:

• Teasing, name-calling, flaming or bashing individuals
• Spreading rumours, private information (including intimate pictures), or fake information online
• Harassment, threatening messages, stalking, or pretending to be someone

Q4.       How aware would you say you are of “cyberbullying”?

Rotate scale

1         Very aware

2         Somewhat aware

3         Not very aware

·       Not at all aware

99  Prefer not to say                             Anchor

Q5.  On a scale of 0-10, how much of a problem do you think cyberbullying is for young people (i.e. 10 to 24-year olds) in Canada?

       Insert horizontal scale. Rotate scale.

  0 = Cyberbullying is not much of a problem at all

10 = Cyberbullying is an extremely serious problem

00 Prefer not to say                    Anchor

Q6.  How common do you think it is for young people to experience cyberbullying?

Rotate scale

1         Cyberbullying is quite rare and only affects a very small number of young people

2         Cyberbullying happens occasionally and affects a minority of young people

·       Cyberbullying is pretty common and affects a lot of young people

·       Cyberbullying is everywhere and almost everyone experiences it

·       Don’t know                               Anchor

Q7.  What specific categories of young people do you think are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         Young men or boys

2         Young women or girls

3         Transgender or gender diverse people

4         People that identify as gay or lesbian

5         People who are perceived as physically unattractive, over or underweight          

6         People of colour/racialized people

7         People with a sensory disability (seeing or hearing)

8         People with a physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain)

9         People with a cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory)

·       People with a mental health-related disability

·       People with chronic health conditions, episodic, or temporary disabilities 

·       Types of people not identified above (specify)                      Anchor

10     Everyone is equally likely to be cyberbullied                       Anchor. Exclusive

98 I don’t know                                                                       Anchor. Exclusive

99 Prefer not to say                                                   Anchor. Exclusive

Q8.  As far as you know is cyberbullying legal or illegal in Canada?

1         Cyberbullying is illegal

2         Cyberbullying is mostly illegal, but it depends on what it consists of

3         There are no laws against cyberbullying. It is legal.

4         Don’t know

99   Prefer not to say

Section 5: Experiencing Cyberbullying

The objective of this study is to gather valuable insights and data to improve actions taken by the Government of Canada to address cyberbullying. By answering the following questions, you will contribute to a deeper understanding of the current challenges and help identify potential solutions for cyberbullying prevention and intervention.

Q9.  How concerned are you that your own children might ever be cyberbullied?

1            Very concerned

2            Somewhat concerned

·       Not very concerned

·       Not at all concerned

Q10.     Have any of your own children aged 10 to 24 ever been cyberbullied?

·       Yes, one of my children has been cyberbullied

·       Yes, several of my children have been cyberbullied

·        No, my children have never been cyberbullied               Skip to Section 6

9      Prefer not to say                                                                  Skip to Section 6

99    I don’t know                                                                        Skip to Section 6

IF ONE CHILD WAS CYBERBULLIED IN Q. 10, ASK

Q11a.     How old was your child when they were first cyberbullied?

 

            _____years of age DROP DOWN LIST OF AGES UP TO 24

IF MULTIPLE CHILDREN WERE CYBERBULLIED IN Q. 10, ASK

Q11b.   How old were each of your children when they were first cyberbullied?

Child #1

            _____years of age DROP DOWN LIST OF AGES UP TO 24

Child #2

            _____years of age DROP DOWN LIST OF AGES UP TO 24

Child #3

            _____years of age DROP DOWN LIST OF AGES UP TO 24

Q11c.   What is the gender(s) of your child(ren) who was cyberbullied?

       Select all that apply.

1         Man/Boy

·       Woman/Girl

·       They identify as another gender (specify)

2          Prefer not to say            EXCLUSIVE

Q12.     When was the last time any of your children was cyberbullied?

1.       Within the last week

2.       Within the last month

3.       One month up to three months ago

4.       Three months to a year ago

5.       More than a year ago

·       Don’t remember

·       Prefer not to say

Q13      At the time of the most recent incident, which of the following best describes how you found out your child(ren) was being cyberbullied?

1   My child came to me right away and told me about the cyberbullying

2   My child eventually told me about the cyberbullying long after it began

3   My child didn’t tell me about the cyberbullying, and I found out about it from another source

4   Other (SPECIFY)_______________________

Q14.     As far as you know, where or on what platform was your child(ren) cyberbullied?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         Facebook

·       Text messaging/WhatsApp

·       Instagram

·       Snapchat

·       X (formerly Twitter)

·       YouTube

·       Twitch

·       Discord

·       Reddit

·       Gaming systems (Xbox Live, PlayStation, Steam, etc..)

·       Tumblr

·       TikTok

·        Somewhere else (specify)       Anchor

·       I don’t know                                 Anchor. Exclusive

·       Prefer not to say                     Anchor. Exclusive

Q14b.  In terms of cyberbullying, which of the following social media apps and communications methods do you consider safe?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1          Facebook

·       Instagram

·       Text messaging/WhatsApp

2          Snapchat

3            X (formerly Twitter)

4            YouTube

5            Twitch

6            Discord

·       Reddit

·       Gaming systems (Xbox Live, PlayStation, Steam, etc..)

·       Tumblr

·       TikTok

·       None are safe                           Anchor. Exclusive

·       I don’t know                                Anchor Exclusive

·       Prefer not to say                       Anchor. Exclusive

Q15.     When your child(ren) was cyberbullied, which of the following did they experience?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         Name-calling

2         Physically threatening messages

3         Sexually explicit messages

4         Private information posted publicly (including intimate photos)

5         Negative comments about their race or ethnicity

6         Negative comments about their sexual orientation

7         Negative comments about their gender identity

8         Negative comments about their physical appearance or weight

9         Negative comments about their sensory disability (seeing or hearing)

10     Negative comments about their physical disability (mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain)      

11     Negative comments about their cognitive disability (learning, developmental, memory)

12     Negative comments about their mental health-related disability

13     Negative comments about their health conditions (chronic, episodic, or temporary)

1            98 Other (specify)                                    Anchor

·       14 I don’t know                                          Anchor. Exclusive

·       99 Prefer not to say                                   Anchor. Exclusive

Q16.     How would you say your child(ren) being cyberbullied affected you personally? Use a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means that the experience of your child being cyberbullied didn’t bother you at all and 10 means that your child being cyberbullying bothered you a lot..

       Insert scale. Rotate scale.

  0 = Didn’t bother you at all

10 = Bothered you a lot

00 Prefer not to say                              Anchor

Q17.     How would you say being cyberbullied affected your child(ren)? Use a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means that the experience of being cyberbullied didn’t bother your child at and 10 means that being cyberbullied bothered them a lot.

       Insert scale. Rotate scale.

  0 = Didn’t bother my child at all

10 = Bothered your child a lot

 00 Prefer not to say                              Anchor

Q18. At the time of the most recent incident, what did you do in response to your child(ren) being cyberbullied?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         I did nothing in response                                        Anchor. Exclusive       SKIP TO Q20

2         Kept records of the incidents

3         Showed my child how to block the cyberbully

4         Talked to my child about it and tried to be supportive

5         Talked to a teacher or to school authorities about it

6         Talked to/confronted the parents of the cyberbully

7         Contacted police

8         Learned about website or app privacy settings

9         Reported incidents to the website or application

10     Directly confronted the cyberbully

11     Went online for advice

12     Took away their phone/tablet or computer or restricted access to it

·       Other (specify)                                         Anchor

·       Prefer not to say                                   Anchor. Exclusive

Q19.      What happened after you took these steps in response to your child being cyberbullied?

1         The cyberbullying stopped

2         The cyberbullying continued as before

3         The cyberbullying got worse

99   Prefer not to say

Section 6: Witnessing Cyberbullying

Q20.     In the past year, have you witnessed any cyberbullying that was directed at a youth other than your own children?  (i.e. you heard about or saw it happen to another kid)?

·       Yes

·       No                                     Skip to Section 7

9     Prefer not to say            Skip to Section 7

IF YES

Q21.     At the time of the most recent incident, what relationship did you have to the person(s) who you witnessed being cyberbullied?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         Friend of one of my children

2         Child of one of my friends

3         Child I’m related to (e.g. niece, nephew)

4         Child at my kids’ school

5         Child in my neighbourhood

6         I did not know the child

98  Other (specify)                                            Anchor

99  Prefer not to say                                         Anchor. Exclusive

 

Q22. When you witnessed or heard about a young person being cyberbullied, what did you do?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         I did nothing in response                                         Anchor. Exclusive

2         Kept records of the incidents

3         Showed the child how to block the cyberbully

4         Talked to the child about it and tried to be supportive

5         Talked to a teacher or to school authorities about it

6         Talked to/confronted the parents of the cyberbully

7         Contacted police

8         Learned about website and app privacy settings

9         Reported incidents to site

10     Directly confronted the cyberbully

11     Went online for advice

12     Talked to my own child about cyberbullying

98   Other (specify)                                            Anchor

 99  Prefer not to say                             Anchor. Exclusive

Section 7: Perpetrating Cyberbullying

Q23.     How concerned are you that one of your own children might ever do something to someone online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying?

1            Very concerned

2            Somewhat concerned

·       Not very concerned

·       Not at all concerned

Q24.     As far as you know, have any of your children ever done anything to someone online in a way that could be considered cyberbullying or where they were accused of cyberbullying?

·       Yes

1         No                               Skip to Section 8

9     Prefer not to say      Skip to Section 8

99  Don’t know                Skip to Section 8

IF YES

Q25.     At that time, what relationship did your child have to the person(s) who they may have cyberbullied?

       Select all that apply.

Randomize

1         Friend/former friend

2         Acquaintance

3         Family member

4         Stranger on the Internet or person was anonymous

5         Someone they knew online

6         Current or past romantic partner

·       Someone from school

·       Someone they work with

·       Other (specify)               Anchor

7         Don’t know                    Anchor. Exclusive

Q26.     Thinking about this incident where your child may have cyberbullied someone, what did you do about it?

Section 8: Responding to cyberbullying – ASK ALL

Q27.     If one of your children was being cyberbullied now, how would you respond?

Select all that apply

Randomize

1         Ignore it and not respond                                                                   Anchor. Exclusive

2         I would not know how to respond or what to do                           Anchor. Exclusive

3         Keep records of the incidents

4         Show my child how to block the cyberbully

5         I’d talk to my child about it and try to be supportive

6         Talk to a teacher or to school authorities about it

7         Talk to/confronted the parents of the cyberbully

8         Contact the police

9         Learned about website and app privacy settings

10     Report incidents to the site

11     Directly confront the cyberbully

12     Go online for advice

·       Take away my child’s phone, tablet or computer or restrict access to it

98   Other (specify)                                                                        Anchor

Q28.     To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about cyberbullying?

Randomize. Carousel.

A   If my child was being cyberbullied and took steps to deal with it, I’m confident the problem would go away.

B   Cyberbullying is a growing problem

C   Most people who are cyberbullies get away with it

D   We do not take cyberbullying seriously enough

E   If my child was being cyberbullied, they would probably talk to their friends about it before they would talk to me

F   If I reported cyberbullying to school authorities, I’m confident they’d take it very seriously

G Parents do not have enough information on how to deal with cyberbullying when it happens

H   Cyberbullying can have long-term consequences for victims

         Rotate scale

1         Strongly agree

2         Somewhat agree

3         Somewhat disagree

4         Strongly disagree

·       Not applicable                                      Anchor

99 Prefer not to say                              Anchor. Exclusive

Q29      If your child or someone you knew was being cyberbullied, are there any specific help lines or websites you know of where you could turn to for support?

       1   No, I don’t know of any specific help lines or websites

       2   Yes, there is (PLEASE SPECIFY) ________________________

Section 9: Demographics

To finish up, we’d like to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes only. Please be assured that your answers will remain completely confidential.

D7.  How old are you?

Numeric dropdown 18 to 99

D9. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?

Select one only

01-Up to high school

02-Some high school

03-High school diploma or equivalent

04-Registered Apprenticeship or other trades certificate or diploma

05-College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma

06-University certificate or diploma below bachelor’s level

07-Bachelor’s degree

08-Post graduate degree above bachelor’s level

99-Prefer not to answer

D10. Which of the following categories best describes your total household income? That is, the total income of all persons in your household combined, before taxes?

Select one only

01-Under $20,000

02-$20,000 to just under $40,000

03-$40,000 to just under $60,000

04-$60,000 to just under $80,000

05-$80,000 to just under $100,000

06-$100,000 to just under $150,000

07-$150,000 and above

99-Prefer not to answer

This completes the survey. On behalf of the Government of Canada, thank you for your valuable input. If you would like to know more about cyberbullying and how to deal with it, please visit  

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cbr-scrt/cbrbllng/index-en.aspx. In the coming months, the results of this survey will be available on the Library and Archives Canada website.