Terre des hommes has been involved in a research project to investigate online sexual violence among young people.
In the two workshops conducted as part of this research project, one in Tirana with students from "Sinan Tafaj" high school and the other in Shupenza (Bulqiza Municipality) with students from "Ibrahim Daci" school, the young participants unanimously expressed feeling at risk when navigating online. They also mentioned specific instances of violence they had experienced, such as:
- Exposure to inappropriate videos and photos
- Stealing and sharing personal photos and videos
- Hate speech and online bullying
- Harassment by unknown or falsely identified individuals
- Scams related to online job opportunities.
"You have to be aware of the sites you are going to visit and with whom you are sharing personal information," said one of the young participants, mentioning TikTok and Snapchat as two platforms where young people feel less secure.
The youth in Tirana and Bulqiza emphasized the significance of educating children and young people about online safety. They also suggested conducting awareness activities for parents and the community to raise awareness about potential online risks. One of the recommendations is to improve understanding of the various types of support available for children and young people impacted by online violence and bullying.
The Technology Coalition Against Violence Against Children, in collaboration with Royal Roads University (Canada), the International Institute for Child Rights and Development (USA), and the Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children (Kenya), established the Technology Coalition Research Project for a Safer Internet. The project aims to encourage young people to share their experiences with online navigation.