June 15th 2024.
In the UK, there's a map that shows which areas are the most prone to online harassment. It's a sad reality that trolling, once confined to the darkest corners of the internet, has now become a mainstream activity. The use of revenge porn, doxxing, deepfakes, and social media stalking are all tactics used by online abusers, leading to a significant increase in searches on how to report online harassment - a whopping 150% jump in 2024 alone. Research has revealed that 44% of internet users have experienced some form of harassment online, with platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook being the most common grounds for cyberbullying.
Shocking statistics show that women are 27 times more likely to fall victim to online cyberbullying compared to men. This led Independent Advisor Broadband to conduct a series of Freedom of Information requests to uncover the top 10 UK cities with the highest number of police reports for online harassment and cyberbullying between 2021 and 2023. Topping the list is Manchester, with Greater Manchester Police recording a staggering 771 reports per 100,000 people. In just three years, Manchester alone reported 64,821 incidents, which accounts for 46.7% of all reports in the UK. To put it into perspective, that's 29% more incidents per 100,000 people than the next closest constabulary, Cleveland.
Speaking of Cleveland, this northeast county takes second place on the list with 598 reported incidents per 100,000 people since 2021. Despite having a smaller population of just 557,000, Cleveland has an alarming average of 3,331 reports annually, equating to approximately 9.1 incidents per day. However, there has been a 20% decrease in reports from 2022 to 2023. The third spot goes to Avon and Somerset Constabulary, reporting 262 incidents per 100,000 people in the last three years. With an average of 4,320 reports annually, this translates to around 11.8 incidents per day in a population of 1,650,000.
Cumbria, West Mercia, and North Wales closely follow with approximately 250 incidents per 100,000 people each, while Cambridgeshire rounds out the list with 105 incidents. On the other end of the spectrum, Essex Police recorded the lowest number of online harassment and cyberbullying reports, with only 5 incidents per 100,000 people between 2021 and 2023. Similarly, reports in Leicestershire Constabulary have dropped by 45% in the same period. However, Dorset has seen a significant increase of 64% in online harassment and cyberbullying reports between 2021 and 2023.
For those who are suffering from online abuse, former Cyber-Crime Investigator and CEO & Cybersecurity Founder at TisOva, Valeen Oseh-Ovarah, has some advice. She emphasizes the importance of not blaming oneself for the harassment and practicing self-compassion. Documenting all evidence is crucial for reporting and may serve as proof if legal action is necessary. While it may be challenging, it's essential to keep a record of all communication as it can be useful when reporting the incident to law enforcement, social media platforms, or internet providers.
Oseh-Ovarah also stresses the importance of reporting these incidents. Not only does it hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions, but it also prevents others from falling victim to their acts. She advises reporting the incident to the platform where it occurred, the police, or someone trusted for necessary actions to be taken. In the end, it's essential to remember that online harassment and cyberbullying are serious issues that shouldn't be taken lightly, and we must all do our part in preventing and addressing them.
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