Banter or Bullying No Offense 2020 is a national UK report examining the nature of offense and where young people draw the line. The study asked 3,003 participants aged 13-18 across the UK a series of questions designed to better understand young people's personal boundaries, the use of primers such as "no offense but..." and teenagers' ability to identify bullying masked as banter. The study further explored how young people felt about communicating openly with friends and family when lines were crossed and personal boundaries were breached.
Do you think calling something banter is sometimes used as an excuse for bullying?
65% of respondents said they thought banter could be used as an excuse for bullying
Have you ever noticed somebody else be left upset or insulted by banter?
83% of respondents said they had witnessed someone else being upset by banter.
Have you ever been upset or insulted by a comment that started with "no offence, but..."?
68% of respondents said they had been upset by a comment which started with 'no offence but…'
Do you believe that using phrases like "no offence, but..." or "it's just banter" when joking with friends or family can prevent someone from being offended?
60% of respondents said that using these phrases would not prevent someone from being offended.
Do you know what your own personal boundaries are and the topics that you find offensive?
80% of respondents said they knew what their boundaries were and what topics were likely to offend them.
Do you find it easy to talk with friends and family if they cross these boundaries?
33% of respondents who said they know their own personal boundaries and what they deem offensive didn't find it easy to talk with friends and family when they offended them.
Has social media made you more or less aware of what you find offensive or crosses your personal boundaries?
64% of respondents indicated that social media had made them more aware of what they feel is offensive or crosses personal boundaries.
Have you ever used online tools to set boundaries such as blocking or unfollowing someone or changing privacy settings?
66% of respondents indicated that they used online tools to set boundaries.
Have your online interactions increased this year due to lockdown and social distancing?
41% of respondents indicated that the majority of their social interactions with others were now online due to lockdown and social distancing.
Do you find it easier to communicate with people in person or online?
31% of respondents indicated they found it easier to communicate with people online.
To what extent do you agree or disagree that people need to be more careful when communicating online than in person?
83% of respondents indicated they agreed that people need to be more careful when communicating online than in person.
What, if anything, do you find most difficult about communicating with people online?
34% of respondents indicated that not hearing someone's tone of voice made it most difficult to communicate with people online.
Do you think people are more likely to overstep the mark from banter into bullying, when communicating online than offline?
75% of respondents said they agreed people were more likely to overstep the mark from banter to bullying when talking online.
“Understanding people's tone online can be challenging, and not everyone has the confidence to speak out when they are offended, so it's important that people of all ages build the necessary skills to protect their online life and reach out for support when they need.”
Cybersmile Advisory Panel
Overview
Key Takeaways
- 83% had witnessed someone else being upset by banter
- 68% had been upset by a comment that started with 'no offense, but...'
- 75% agreed that people were more likely to overstep the mark from banter to bullying when talking online
- 80% knew what their boundaries were and what topics were likely to offend them
- 66% had used user safety tools or privacy features to help them set boundaries
- 65% felt that banter could be used as an excuse for bullying
Method
The research was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Cybersmile across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland with 3,000 general respondents (aged 13–18) who were social media users between 10.30.2020 through 11.03.2020. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society, which is based on the ESOMAR principles, and is a member of The British Polling Council.
Citation
The Cybersmile Foundation (2020). Banter or Bullying No Offense Report (2020): A national UK study in partnership with Instagram, examining the nature of offense and where young people draw the line.