Microsoft research indicates online civility is improving, albeit very gradually

The pandemic hasn’t yet ended, but the online world seems to have undergone a turnaround in terms of civil behavior. A new Microsoft research indicates online suffering has seen a U-turn and is on the mend.

When the pandemic was at its peak, an identical survey by Microsoft conducted in 2020 had indicated that online civility had deteriorated. The latest survey indicates Internet users aren’t being as mean to each other like last year. Many expected the emergence of new variants of coronavirus, and the reintroduction of restrictions or curfews in some regions to have a deteriorating effect on online behavior. However, the survey seems to indicate the opposite has happened.

According to the latest Digital Civility Index (DCI) survey, this year scored 65%. It is a mere 2% jump from 2020’s numbers. Although the improvement isn’t by much, these are the best statistics since 2016. In order to prevent these numbers from slipping, and to improve online civility, Microsoft has four rules to follow:

• Live the Golden Rule by acting with empathy, compassion and kindness in every interaction, and treating everyone you connect with online with dignity and respect.
• Respect differences, honor diverse perspectives and, when disagreements surface, engage thoughtfully, avoiding name-calling and personal attacks.
• Pause before replying to things you disagree with, and don’t post or send anything that could hurt someone else, damage a reputation or threaten someone’s safety.
• Stand up for yourself and others by supporting those who are targets of online abuse or cruelty, reporting threatening activity and preserving evidence of inappropriate or unsafe behavior.

Microsoft conducted the survey in 22 countries, and polled teens aged between 13 and 17 as well as adults aged between 18 and 74 about their exposure to 21 online risks across four categories (reputational, behavioral, sexual, and personal/intrusive, their experiences of life online (including during the pandemic) and how interactions in those areas impacted their perception of online civility.

Although the online world seems a little more civil than last year, teen girls and women have had it a little worse. According to the survey, women had to deal with nearly 60% of all reported civility and safety risks in 2021.