Microsoft’s Digital Civility Index fell two points, to 66, in 2018, signalling that Internet users around the world are treating each other slightly better. The closer the index is to zero, the more civil people are toward each other.
The survey measured the feelings of teens and adults in 22 countries about their online experiences and the risks they face when spending time online.
The civility index in the US fell ten points in the past year to 51, showing the biggest improvement, according to a blog post from Microsoft.
Microsoft’s research found people were experiencing more consequences of online harassment, bullying, and unwanted contact. People reported losing sleep, feeling more stressed, and becoming less trustful of people both online and off. Each negative consequence increased three to four points in 2018.
Though it seems there’s a reason why people are feeling like the internet is slightly more civil than it was in 2017: they’re starting to unplug more. The survey found that 27 percent of people—a four percent increase—said all of the negativity has prompted them to spend less time participating on social media and blogs.