Cyberstalking in Canada
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Description: Cyberstalking in Canada
| Region | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 8% | 6% |
| West | 8% | 6% |
| Ontario | 8% | 6% |
| Quebec | 5% | 4% |
| Atlantic | 8% | 5% |
Women are more likely than men to be cyberstalked.
A person has experienced "cyberstalking" if they have been subject to repeated and unwanted online attention, within the past five years. This includes receiving unwanted messages via e-mail, text, or social media or having someone post inappropriate, unwanted or personal information or pictures on a social media site.
Those who experienced discrimination in the past 5 years are more likely than those who had not experienced discrimination to have been cyberstalked.
| Experienced discrimination in the past 5 years | Had not experienced discrimination in the past 5 years | |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 19% | 6% |
| Male | 15% | 4% |
| 15 to 24 | 55 to 34 | 35 to 44 | 45 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65 or older | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 14% | 11% | 7% | 7% | 4% | 2% |
| Men | 9%Footnote * | 8%Footnote * | 5% | 4%Footnote * | 4% | 3% |
|
Avgerage for women: 8% |
||||||
Cyberstalking decreases with age for both women and men
| Marital status | Percentage of women who have experienced cyberstalking |
|---|---|
| MarriedFootnote 1 | 4% |
| Common-law | 7% |
| Separated or divorce | 12% |
| Single (never married) | 13% |
Separated or divorced women who have been cyberstalked are nearly 2.5 times more likely than other separated or divorced women to report having been physically or sexually abused by an ex-spouse
Mental Health
| Cyberstalked | Not cyberstalked | |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 56% | 75% |
| Men | 64% | 45% |
Women who experienced cyberstalking are 25% less likely than other women to rate their mental health as very good or excellent
Personal Safety
| Cyberstalked | Not cyberstalked | |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 75% | 86% |
| Men | 87% | 92% |
Women and men who have been cyberstalked are less likely than those who have not to be satisfied or very satisfied with their personal safety
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey on Canadians' Safety (Victimization), 2014
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