A recent study by Save the Children Jordan revealed that 15.8% of children aged 10 to 17 have faced some form of digital abuse, with cyberbullying, account hacking, and blackmail identified as the most common threats. The study, titled “Behind the Screens: Safety in Digital Spaces for Children aged 10–17 in Jordan,” was released ahead of World Children’s Day on November 20.
The findings raised concerns over a significant gap in parental awareness, with 75% of parents unaware that their children had been subjected to online abuse. Alarmingly, the study also found low usage of parental control tools, with only 9% of parents using such applications. Most parents, however, rely on educating their children about safe online practices and supervising their internet activities.
The study found that 76.7% of children aged 10–17 access the internet daily, with internet usage rising to 86.5% among 16–17-year-olds. Gender differences in usage were minimal. Despite this, many parents do not take proactive measures to safeguard their children online, with only 7.8% blocking inappropriate websites, while 57.4% rely on their children to help navigate the internet.
The study also revealed a disconnect between parents’ understanding of digital violence and the online realities their children face. One mother interviewed for the study noted, “Though we live under the same roof, our children are living in their virtual world, isolated from us, unlike our childhood when families lived in a world free of electronic devices.”
The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys of 1,510 children and 750 parents from Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, and Mafraq. It also gathered qualitative insights through 16 workshops with children and eight focus groups with parents and caregivers.
Save the Children Jordan plans to hold a press conference on December 3 to discuss the study’s findings and future initiatives.
