​New York, NY – November 20, 2013 – MTV and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research today released new results from a recent survey that explores the pervasiveness of digital discrimination among teens and young adults, how it is affecting America’s youth, and how they’re responding to it. According to the survey, use of discriminatory language is as pervasive as it was in 2011, with 1 in 2 young people reporting that they sometimes or often see or hear people using discriminatory language or images on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Similar to 2011, the groups most frequently discriminated against online include the overweight, LGBTQ, African Americans and women, and the places young people encounter discriminatory language the most are YouTube, online gaming communities, and Facebook (56 percent, 54 percent, and 53 percent respectively). Overall, growing numbers of young people view the use of discriminatory language as inappropriate. Compared to 2011, nearly 20 percent fewer young people believe it’s okay for them and their friends to use discriminatory language around each other “because they know they don’t mean it” (45 percent vs. 54 percent). Additionally, nearly 80 percent of young people say it’s important that people who use slurs or discriminatory images online are held accountable for their actions.

The MTV and Associated Press-NORC Center study results released today are part of MTV’s “A THIN LINE” campaign, which has already empowered more than 1.5 million young people to take action to stop the spread of digital abuse. This is the second wave of information released as part of this study. Insights from the first wave can be found here.

Detailed findings from the second wave of the October 2013 study include:
I. Discriminatory Words and “Why”
A number of young people encounter misogynistic and homophobic words or phrases on the Internet and via text message:

• Six in 10 young people say they sometimes or often see people using the word “bitch,” online or in text messages against other people, nearly 50 percent say they sometimes or often see people using the word “slut,” and nearly 45 percent say they see people using the word “whore.”
• The percentage of young people who see others using homophobic words or phrases has declined significantly since 2011, however many phrases are still often seen.
• “That’s so gay” remains a common phrase on the Internet and in text message, with just over half (52 percent) of young people reporting that they encounter the phrase, down 20 percent from 2011 (65 percent).
• Just over 40 percent of young people say they sometimes or often see people using the word “fag” against other people, also a nearly 20 percent decline since 2011 (43 percent vs. 53 percent)
• Among the reasons young people cite for why people use discriminatory language online or in text messages, more than half (53 percent) say those who use it are “trying to be funny,” and 45 percent say “they think it’s ‘cool’ to use that language.”

II. Where it’s Happening
Exposure to discriminatory language and images varies by social networking site.

• A majority of users on YouTube, online gaming communities, and Facebook report encountering discriminatory words or images (56 percent, 54 percent, and 53 percent, respectively).
• Nearly half (49 percent) of young people who use Twitter say they sometimes or often encounter discriminatory language or images when using the platform.
• Around four in 10 who use Tumblr (43 percent), Vine (42 percent), Reddit (42 percent), and Instagram (37 percent) say they encounter discriminatory words or images.

III. Online vs. In-Person, and Intervening
The survey reinforced that people can be emboldened to type things they’d never say, as a large majority (73 percent) of respondents say people are more likely to use discriminatory language online or in text messages than in face-to-face conversations. This is on par with the 2011 findings (71 percent).
When it comes to intervening:

• Less than half (44 percent) of all young people say they would intervene if they witnessed someone using discriminatory language or images on social media. This marks a nearly 15 percent decline from those who said they would intervene in 2011 (51 percent).
• Nearly 6 in 10 say they would be somewhat or very likely to ask someone to stop if they saw someone using discriminatory language in person.
• A large majority (86 percent) who wouldn’t intervene online or in person state that it’s because they wouldn’t feel comfortable doing so. Less than 15 percent say it’s because they don’t see anything wrong with this behavior.

To access the full MTV/AP-NORC research findings from 2013, 2011 and 2009, please go to
www.research.ATHINLINE.org. Additional information, including The Associated Press’ stories based on the survey results
and the survey’s complete topline findings, can be found on the AP-NORC Center’s website at www.apnorc.org.

Launched in 2009, MTV’s “A THIN LINE” campaign empowers America’s youth to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse, which includes all forms of digital bullying, dating abuse and discrimination. MTV is addressing these issues through thought-provoking PSAs, integration into MTV's top-rated shows, innovative online and mobile tools, and curricula. For more information on MTV’s “A THIN LINE” please head to www.ATHINLINE.org.