Most kids online worldwide fear bullying

• Tweet

REDMOND, Wash., June 27 (UPI) -- More than half of the children and teens around the world worry about being bullied online, indicated a survey for Microsoft Corp. in Redmond, Wash.

Jacqueline Beauchere, director, Trustworthy Computing for Microsoft, said Microsoft commissioned the survey to look at of a range of online behaviors among youth -- from "meanness," the least severe, to online bullying or cruelty, the most severe.

The survey, conducted in 25 countries Jan. 11 to Feb. 19 among more than 7,600 children ages 8-17, found about 40 percent of children and teens said they experienced what adults might consider online bullying.

Twenty-four percent said they did something parents would consider online bullying and 5 percent said parents engaged with their children's school about online bullying.

The survey indicated children want to talk to parents about online bullying, but only 29 percent said their parents have talked to them about protecting themselves online and only 17 percent communicated a clear set of rules for negative online behaviors.

"Kids need to know that they can turn to a trusted adult, such as a parent, caregiver or teacher, who will talk to them about all kinds of online safety concerns," Beauchere said in a statement.

Adults were allowed to help their children answer questions if necessary. Field work and data processing was performed by Synovate. No further survey details were provided.