About Dating Abuse
Dating Abuse and Technology
According to one study1:
- 10% of teens claim they have been threatened physically via email, IM, text, chat, etc.
- 1 in 3 teens who have been in a relationship say they’ve been text messaged 10, 20, or 30 times an hour by a partner finding out where they are, what they’re doing, or who they’re with.
- 19% say that their partner has used a cell phone or the internet to spread rumors about them.
- 1 in 6 teens in a relationship (16%) claim their partner has actually bought a cell phone or minutes for them.
Technology (such as computers, cell phones, web cams, GPS devices, etc.) has made everyday life easier for us in a lot of ways, but it has also made it easier for people to monitor, track, and control you.
Has This Happened To You?
There are things you can do to enhance your safety when using technology. Think about:
- Keep passwords private and change them often. Don’t use passwords that are easy to figure out, like your pet’s name or important dates.
- Use the privacy settings on sites like Facebook.
- Check privacy settings often to make sure the settings haven’t changed.
- Think about who is on your friends list and remember that people who are friends of your friends might be able to see your posts
- Delete the history and “cookies” from your web browser from time to time so it is harder to track your on-line activity.
- Contact your cell phone company to have a phone number blocked if you are getting harassing calls or text messages.
Remember – BE CAREFUL if you make changes to how you use technology while you are being abused and/or stalked because it can increase danger for you if your partner realizes what you are doing. It’s a good idea to talk to an advocate before making changes to be sure you are doing things in the safest way possible.
For more on Technology and Dating Abuse, visit:
- Technology Safety section of Finding Safety and Support
- The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Safety Net Project
