Prevalence, nature and impacts of non-sexual online harassment in Sri Lanka: A quantitative analysis

The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence, nature and impacts of nonsexual online harassment among the youth population in Sri Lanka. Data was collected through a countrywide survey from a cross-sectional sample of 4805 young people. Data was analysed using SPSS software package. Results of this study indicate that 11.7 % of the youth population surveyed had experienced non-sexual forms of harassment in the cyberspace. The analysis also revealed the most common types of harassment experienced, the platform where harassment was committed the most, the most common types of victims and perpetrators, and the impacts of non-sexual online harassment on victims. The findings of this study suggest that Sri Lanka needs to devise targeted policies for combatting non-sexual online harassment, and that it may need to tailor its responses to the needs of each sector. • 11.7 % of the Sri Lankan youth had experienced non-sexual online harassment (NSH), in varying rates across diverse sectors. • The survey uncovered notable variances in the experience of NSH across schools, universities, vocational colleges, and work environments, highlighting unique challenges in each sector. • The research uncovers common types of NSH, the digital platforms where they occurred, and the demographics of victims and perpetrators. • The study revealed significant impacts of NSH on the mental and emotional well-being of victims. • The findings highlight the need for targeted policies in to address non-sexual online harassment, tailored for diverse sectors and youth needs.