ONLINE harassment of girls has become so common it is considered “normal,” according to a worrying new report published today.

The study, by online safety charity Internet Matters, found that 77 per cent of girls aged 13 to 16 in Britain report digital experiences that are or may be harmful.

Based on in-depth interviews with girls and parents, the study found that there is a “widely prevalent belief” among girls that this is “an intrinsic component” of the digital space.

Girls recalled receiving messages online from men who they considered “weird” or “creepy” and explicit photos.

One parent said that their daughter receiving explicit photos from men is “so standard it’s not noteworthy,” sparking concerns that harassment is seen as “normal” and that adults are “verging upon trivialising it.”

Internet Matters reported that the percentage of girls aged 13-16 who said a stranger attempted to contact or send them messages had risen from 31 per cent in 2022, to 38 per cent in 2023.

Internet Matters chief executive Carolyn Bunting said that “girls not only seem to accept this as part and parcel of online life, but it is surprising to learn from this research how some parents are coming to see online harassment of girls as normal.

“We have to also confront the views of a minority of boys and men who think it’s acceptable to harass girls, enabled by tech which can fuel and amplify harassment.”

The report called for a public campaign to “reset expectations about appropriate behaviour online” that highlights positive male role models, and urged platforms to develop responses to disincentivise harm and the harassment of girls.