In 2013, the United States government proclaimed February as “Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month” a proclamation that publicly shines a light on this growing concern. Unfortunately, here in Canada, our government has not made the same proclamation, even though 1 in 3 teens in our country reported that they had experienced some form of dating violence in a relationship (1) In this posting, we are going to focus on a sub-set of dating violence – “Teen Digital Relationship Abuse”
With the increasing use of technology among youth, the use of technology to emotionally, psychologically, physically, and socially control a partner in a dating relationship is also on the increase. In our opinion, it is a form of domestic violence and should be treated as such. Often, it can be a crime!
We have anecdotally heard from teens that this form of abuse is a growing challenge in today’s onlife dating world – we personally have seen cases as early as middle school. This form of abuse involves the use of technology such as a computer, cellphone, social media, texting, and messaging apps, to control, intimidate, or even harm a partner. Some examples of teen digital relationship abuse that we have seen, or that have been shared with us by teen survivors include:
- a partner who demands that you keep the GPS on your phone on thus allowing to track your location.
- a partner who sends a message threatening to harm themselves if you don’t comply with their request.
- a partner who uses technology to repeatedly apply pressure to send sexualized pictures, videos, or messages.
- a partner who continues to share private information publicly online about you without consent.
- a partner who continues to demand to check your phone, and/or demands your passwords so that they can access your accounts without consent.
- a partner who texts, calls, or messages excessively and expects reciprocation.
- a partner who continually monitors your online activities and uses that information to harass or intimidate you.
- a partner who uses social media to spread false rumors about their partner, or to publicly humiliate them online.
- a partner who threatens to publicly post intimate photos or videos shared in a relationship, with friends or family members if the victim does not comply with their demands.
Unfortunately, not enough good evidence-based research has been done on this form of abuse, however, there has been some:
- Prevnet Canada reported 17.5% of gr 9-10 students found themselves involved in this type of abuse (2)
- Cyberbullying.org reported 28% of teens identified being in an abusive relationship (3)
Digital relationship abuse can have severe emotional and psychological effects on a victim, including low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, and can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also lead to physical harm, as some victims may feel threatened or coerced into harmful situations. Additionally, teen digital relationship abuse can also lead to a loss of trust in future relationships and even a fear of technology.
To address this issue, it is important for parents, teachers, and other trusted adults to educate young people about consent, healthy relationships, and the dangers of teen digital relationship abuse. We also need to encourage teens to seek help if they experience or witness any form of digital relationship abuse. We believe that one of the best resources to help educate parents, teachers, and teens on this topic comes from Prevnet (4)
Teen digital relationship abuse is a growing and serious concern that requires the attention and action of parents, educators, teens, and technology companies. By educating young people about this challenge, combined with education surrounding consent and healthy relationships, we can help prevent the harmful effects of teen digital relationship abuse, and create a safer and more supportive online environment for all teens.
Come on government of Canada, let’s pass a proclamation that we too nationally recognize February as “Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month”.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
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