It Can Be Tech Abuse If Someone:

• Controls your phone
• Takes your phone away from you
• Breaks your phone
• Makes you share your phone
• Controls your online accounts
• Stops you from using your online accounts
• Uses your online accounts when you don’t want them to
• Shares pictures of you that you don’t want people to see
• Tells you they will share pictures of you that you don’t want people to see unless you do what they want

It Can Be Tech Abuse If Someone:

Watches what you do using:

• Your phone
• Hidden cameras
• Apps

Uses a Computer, Phone, or Tablet to:

• Repeatedly contact you (if unwanted)
• Say things that hurt you
• Punish you
• Say they will hurt you or a member of your family

Uses Apps or Social Media to:

• Say things that make you feel bad
• Say things that make you or your family look bad
• Make threats about things they will do to you or our family

Uses Tech to:

• Find out where you are when you don’t want them to
• Find out what you are doing when you don’t want them to
• Follow you

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is part of a continuum of violence that can be both online and in-person. If you or someone you know is experiencing TFGBV, you are not alone. You can use sheltersafe.ca to find a shelter/transition house near you to discuss options and create a safety plan. You don’t need to stay in a shelter to access free, confidential services and support.

Adapted for Canada with permission from WESNET’s Technology Safety project, based on their resource Is Tech Abuse Happening to You.