Locked down and online: Teenagers’ wellbeing and online lives in the COVID-19 winter lockdown 2020-21
Youthworks (2021), 36 pp.
"The Cybersurvey is an annual survey exploring online life and wellbeing among 11-17year olds. Data is gathered in the autumn term. In 2020/21 collection lasted from November 2020 until February 2021.
Wellbeing year on year 2019/2020: More young people said they had a mental health difficulty in 2020, 12% vs 8%. 68% felt nervous and anxious, among whom 23% felt this way ‘most of the time. Twice as many worry about life at home. Sleep, concentration and appetite, were reduced. 6% fewer teens felt happy most of the time. They also said: other people are less likely to ‘notice that I am not OK.’ Worries became more dominant in 2020: 30% say, ‘sometimes my worries affect my life’ and 34% ‘sometimes can’t make my worries go away’ compared to 25% and 32% in 2019.
[...] Harmful content: Asked whether they have ‘come across’ harmful content of various types, we note year on year increases in the viewing of content about: Bulking up your body 28% to 34%; talking about suicide 25% to 31%; pressure to be very thin 23% to 27%; unsought nude images 23% to 26%.
[...] Hardly ever or never feeling positive: In 2020, the following young people said they hardly ever or never feel positive: 51% of those with an eating disorder and 44% of teens with a mental health difficulty; 43% of teens who worry about life at home; 36% of teens with who get angry or irritable easily; More than 1/3 of teens with hearing loss and 31% who have speech difficulties; 29% of each of the following groups hardly ever or never feel positive about things: young people in or leaving care; those who feel they or their family are badly affected by COVID19; autistic teens and 28% of young carers.
Cyberbullying and Cyberaggression: While Cyberbullying has remained stable overall, at 20% of the sample, one third of Covid affected young people have been cyberbullied. Cyberaggression has increased since 2019: sexist insults (16 vs 12%), homophobic insults (17 vs 15%), racist insults (14 vs 13%) and insults about appearance (25 vs 23%)." (Executive summary, pages 4-5)
Wellbeing year on year 2019/2020: More young people said they had a mental health difficulty in 2020, 12% vs 8%. 68% felt nervous and anxious, among whom 23% felt this way ‘most of the time. Twice as many worry about life at home. Sleep, concentration and appetite, were reduced. 6% fewer teens felt happy most of the time. They also said: other people are less likely to ‘notice that I am not OK.’ Worries became more dominant in 2020: 30% say, ‘sometimes my worries affect my life’ and 34% ‘sometimes can’t make my worries go away’ compared to 25% and 32% in 2019.
[...] Harmful content: Asked whether they have ‘come across’ harmful content of various types, we note year on year increases in the viewing of content about: Bulking up your body 28% to 34%; talking about suicide 25% to 31%; pressure to be very thin 23% to 27%; unsought nude images 23% to 26%.
[...] Hardly ever or never feeling positive: In 2020, the following young people said they hardly ever or never feel positive: 51% of those with an eating disorder and 44% of teens with a mental health difficulty; 43% of teens who worry about life at home; 36% of teens with who get angry or irritable easily; More than 1/3 of teens with hearing loss and 31% who have speech difficulties; 29% of each of the following groups hardly ever or never feel positive about things: young people in or leaving care; those who feel they or their family are badly affected by COVID19; autistic teens and 28% of young carers.
Cyberbullying and Cyberaggression: While Cyberbullying has remained stable overall, at 20% of the sample, one third of Covid affected young people have been cyberbullied. Cyberaggression has increased since 2019: sexist insults (16 vs 12%), homophobic insults (17 vs 15%), racist insults (14 vs 13%) and insults about appearance (25 vs 23%)." (Executive summary, pages 4-5)
Executive Summary, 4
About the samples, 6
Respondents’ vulnerabilities, 7
COVID fallout – who was most affected? 8
Wellbeing in winter 2020, 10
Year on year change, 14
Friendship and trusted adults during a pandemic, 19
Harmful content and fake information about COVID, 26
Cyberaggression, 30
Sharing nude and intimate images, 34
Implications and recommendations, 35
About the samples, 6
Respondents’ vulnerabilities, 7
COVID fallout – who was most affected? 8
Wellbeing in winter 2020, 10
Year on year change, 14
Friendship and trusted adults during a pandemic, 19
Harmful content and fake information about COVID, 26
Cyberaggression, 30
Sharing nude and intimate images, 34
Implications and recommendations, 35
