  User facing 'platform safety technology' encompasses an array of tools
offered by platforms to help people protect themselves from harm, for example
allowing people to report content and unfollow or block other users. These
tools are an increasingly important part of online safety: in the UK,
legislation has made it a requirement for large platforms to offer them.
However, little is known about user engagement with such tools. We present
findings from a nationally representative survey of UK adults covering their
awareness of and experiences with seven common safety technologies. We show
that experience of online harms is widespread, with 67% of people having seen
what they perceived as harmful content online; 26% of people have also had at
least one piece of content removed by content moderation. Use of safety
technologies is also high, with more than 80\% of people having used at least
one. Awareness of specific tools is varied, with people more likely to be aware
of 'post-hoc' safety tools, such as reporting, than preventative measures.
However, satisfaction with safety technologies is generally low. People who
have previously seen online harms are more likely to use safety tools, implying
a 'learning the hard way' route to engagement. Those higher in digital literacy
are also more likely to use some of these tools, raising concerns about the
accessibility of these technologies to all users. Additionally, women are more
likely to engage in particular types of online 'safety work'. We discuss the
implications of our results for those seeking a safer online environment.
