Girlguiding warns of ‘devastating’ fall in UK girls’ happiness as online harms rise

One in four (26%) of those aged 11-21 said they had been sent unwanted sexual images, half had received sexist comments and 28% had been harassed.

From left, Phoebe, 5, Martha, 6 and Tamsin, 6 from 22nd Walthamstow Rainbows take part in an activity to help build resilience and confidence, hosted by Girlguiding. Picture: David Parry/PA

Almost half of girls aged seven to 10 in the UK have experienced online harm in the last year, according to research warning of a “devastating” downward trend in happiness.

Some 49% of girls in this age group told Girlguiding they had experienced at least one online harm over the past 12 months, such as receiving mean comments.