The Ministry of National Security, through the National Headquarters for the Protection of Children Online - 105 and the Office of the Chief Scientist, are publishing for the first time data from a new survey among Israeli youth on the subject of exposure to difficult content and harm to minors online during the Iron Swords War.
• Approximately two-thirds of the youth (63%) who participated in the survey reported that they were exposed to difficult and offensive content (photos/videos/conversations/correspondence/posts) related to the 'Iron Swords' war.
• 61% reported that they had concerns or difficult feelings due to exposure to offensive content online related to the war.
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• 61% teenagers were exposed to fake news online during the 'Iron Swords' war.
• 57% reported being exposed to nationalist or anti-Semitic discourse related to the 'Iron Swords' war on social media or in online games.
• The survey also shows that 601% of youth were familiar with the National Headquarters 105, an increase of 71% from the previous survey held in 2022.
Exposure and sharing of difficult and offensive content on social networks or online games:
• 71% of youth aged 15-17 were exposed to harsh and offensive content related to the war on social networks or in online games.
• Of the youth who defined themselves as secular and/or traditional, 69% were exposed to difficult or offensive content, and of the youth in Arab society, 65% were exposed to difficult or offensive content.
• 13% of the youth who participated in the survey reported that they had transmitted difficult and offensive content to other users.
• 15% of teenagers aged 12-14 testified that they shared difficult and offensive content.
Exposure to nationalist or anti-Semitic discourse related to the 'Iron Swords' War on social media or online games:
• Over half of the youth (57%) said they were exposed to nationalist or anti-Semitic discourse on social media and in online games.
• Approximately two-thirds of youth (64%) aged 15-17 were exposed to nationalist or anti-Semitic discourse on social media and online games, compared to 50% aged 12-14.
• 17% of the youth testified that they were exposed to difficult and offensive content during online classes, among those aged 15-17, 20% were exposed, and among those aged 12-14, 14% were exposed.
Social media vulnerabilities and web browsing patterns in November - December 2023
• About a quarter of the youth (23%) testified that they had been harmed on social media, the main harm being threats or verbal violence (13%).
• 44% of the youth reported being exposed to harm from another person online - 34% of the harm was verbal violence, 16% were incidents of shaming, humiliation or boycott.
• 611% of the youth testified that they surf the Internet for more than 4 hours a day, 41% of whom testified that they surf the Internet for more than 9 hours a day.
• 37% of the youth testified that they surf applications/forums/social networks where browsing is anonymous and the surfers are not identified.
• 30% of teenagers testified that during the year they were approached by a stranger online, an increase of 7% from the previous survey conducted in 2019.
The survey was conducted in the first quarter of 2024 and was conducted mostly via telephone and partly via an online panel. A total of 1,155 youth responded to the survey, representing all youth aged 12-17 in Israel, and with reference to demographic variables such as gender, age groups, sector, and level of religiosity.
The data collection was conducted by the Mind Database Company and under the research management of the Office of the Chief Scientist and the National Headquarters for the Protection of Children Online.
Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir: "The 'Iron Swords' war has also spilled over into the online space and we are witnessing many harms to children and teenagers online, as shown by the harsh data that the survey reveals. It is important that parents show involvement and responsibility, and guide their children on how to avoid harm and exposure to difficult content, and especially to report to the 105 hotline when they are exposed to harm.
""The Ministry of Homeland Security and the National Child Online Protection Bureau are working throughout the year to make the online space a safer space for minors, and especially now, in a time of emergency, we must increase awareness of the dangers online.".
Head of the Civil Division at the National Headquarters, Dr. Nava Cohen-Avigdor: "We provide parents and children with tools for prevention and refer the public to a guide for reporting and removing content on social networks, which is published on the 105 website. The increase in public awareness of the National Headquarters and the 105 hotline is very gratifying and is the result of long-term work among diverse target audiences – children, teenagers, parents, professionals, and more. At the same time, we must continue our work until the entire public in Israel knows us and knows to contact 105 in any case of harm to minors online.".
Recommendations of the National Headquarters for the Protection of Children Online - 105 to the public:
• Talk to your children - It is important to have an open dialogue with your children so that they avoid viewing difficult images and videos - explain to them that this is content that may be harmful to them. If your children have been exposed to difficult content and started watching it because they were curious, it is important to instruct them to stop immediately and not continue watching.
• Don't get angry with them - maintain a calm and respectful conversation. It's important that the children feel comfortable sharing with you what they've watched and don't hesitate to turn to you if they feel distressed.
• Say No! and stop the chain of distribution - tell them that it is permissible and important to say No! when friends encourage them to watch difficult content. Instruct them not to pass the content on or send it to other friends, thus preventing further harm.
• Pay attention to any changes in behavior - be alert to changes in children's behavior and contact a professional whenever the need arises.
• Report - If you or your child have been exposed to difficult or offensive content online, it is important to report it directly on the platform and, of course, contact the 105 hotline 24/7. You can use the guide for reporting and removing content on social networks published on the website of the National Headquarters for the Protection of Children Online - 105.
