Help! I’m overwhelmed!’ Hundreds of girls say they face sexual harassment online. This is what they want to change -CNN

Surveys took place online across three regions of the world: Africa, South Americaand Asia.

What is lacking to protect young women and girls online?When asked in the surveys about what was lacking to protect them and keep them safe online, adequate education on digital literacy was the most selected answer (70%).

How safe do you feel online?One in three survey participants (33%) reported feeling unsafe online.

Among the 13–16 year-olds surveyed, one in five (19%) reported feeling at least somewhat unsafe…

… increasing to one in three (36%) among older girls and young women (age 17-24).

Chimwala, a 13-year-old in Malawi, nearly fell victim to a money scam but, self-taught in online safety, she was fortunately prepared.

How prepared do you feel about the various ways you can protect yourself online?It was clear that participants felt harmful content was inevitable online, and more than 86% reported feeling at least somewhat prepared to protect themselves online.

Regionally, this figure was highest in Africa, corresponding with more girls there also reporting feeling unsafe online.

For Daniela, a blogger in Brazil, precaution became the bedrock of online life. “Sharing things [online] was hurting me both psychologically and personally,” she said.

Who is most responsible for keeping you safe online?The majority (67%) felt staying safe was their own responsibility.

Mary, an older teenager in the Philippines, is one of the many girls relying on herself and her peers. She teaches younger girls about digital safety at school and leads a support system for friends. “They think I’m strong,” she said. “I’m the one whom they draw strength from.”