Hyderabad :  As part of its commitment towards online safety, Microsoft has released the 3^rd  Digital Civility Index on Safer Internet Day (Feb 05). The index shows that people across the world are experiencing increased levels of online civility, including in India. India was at No. 7 among 22 countries surveyed worldwide. The India index was 59% (vs the global index of 66%), reflecting a gain of 2 points y-o-y, indicating a better level of online civility in the country. A lower index indicates lower risk exposure and a higher perceived level of online civility among the population.

The DCI is based on a survey completed in May 2018 to gauge the attitudes and perceptions of teens (ages 13-17) and adults (ages 18-74) in 22 countries about online behaviors and interactions.  It asked questions like, “which online risks have you and your close circle experienced, when and how often have the risks occurred, and what consequences and actions were taken?” —  and it measured respondents’ lifetime exposure to 21 online risks across four areas: behavioral, reputational, sexual and personal/intrusive.

The survey showed that unwanted contact continues to be the standout risk across geographies and demographics. However, teens around the world now more than ever are looking to their parents and other trusted adults for help with online risks. The report reveals several insights for India, including the following:

• The types of risks that stood out for India compared to the global averages included: 1) receiving offensive or obscene content, 2) encountering fake news and 3) encountering internet hoaxes
• Online risks had some of the strongest impacts on millennials and teenagers in terms of risk exposure and consequences
• Teens matched the global average in asking for help from parents (+35 points to 45%) or another adult (+18 points to 26%)
• 29% of perpetrators of online abuse were family or friends
• Respondents showed an increase in “loss of trust in others, both on- and offline; stress, and sleep deprivation” as a result of negative online interactions
• Indians were most likely to encounter fake news and internet hoaxes, with 7 points higher than the global average