Supporting Teens’ Experiences of Digital Dating Violence
As technology evolves and becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, it is important to understand the impacts of teen digital dating violence and the resources available for caregivers and anti-violence workers who support them.
Digital Dating Violence means physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence that occurs between dating partners via texting, social media, and related online mediums. This term is also known as, and will be used interchangeably with, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
This toolkit provides anti-violence workers and caregivers supporting teens through their experiences of digital dating violence with information, tips, handouts, and resources from Women’s Shelters Canada and other organizations.
Technology safety planning should always be done in tandem with safety planning for other aspects of a survivor’s life. Online violence and offline violence are interconnected; it is vital to consider the non-technology-related risks that may be associated with technology safety planning. This section offers anti-violence workers suggestions on how to support teens experiencing digital dating violence as well as safer use of technology suggestions and a tech safety planning checklist to incorporate into safety plans.
Supporting Teens Through Digital Dating Violence
Supporting Indigenous Teens through Digital Dating Violence
Conversation Starters for Tech Safety Planning
Tech Safety Planning Check List
Violence Is Preventable (video series), Victoria Women’s Transition House Society
What’s the Deal: Activity Book Grade 7/8 (PDF), Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Its a Big Deal: Activity Book Grade 9/12 (PDF), Canadian Centre for Child Protection
It’s Your Body, It’s Your Image, Take Back Control (video), Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Being a parent or caregiver of someone in an abusive dating relationship is hard. Add technology abuse to your teen’s situation and this can heighten fear and frustration especially if you are unfamiliar with technology. This section provides helpful information to caregivers supporting teens through digital dating violence.
Supporting Teens Through Digital Dating Violence
How to Help Your Teen Recognize Unhealthy Online Relationships, Canadian Women’s Foundation
The Importance of Seeking Support, Need Help Now
Parenting in an Online World, The White Hatter
Self/Peer Exploitation: What Parents Need to Know, Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Self/Peer Exploitation: Family Resource Guide, Need Help Now
Trauma and Youth who Have Experienced Online Exploitation (PDF), Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Sexual Exploitation And Trafficking Of Children & Youth In Canada A Prevention And Early Intervention Toolkit For Parents, Children of the Street Society
Take It Down
Steps You Can Take to Remove Pictures off the Internet (PDF), Need Help Now
DIY Cybersecurity for Domestic Violence, HACK*BLOSSOM
5-Minute Parenting Guide to Catfishing (PDF), The Tech-Savvy Parent
The information provided here is designed to help you better understand the legal options related to experiences of Teen Digital Dating Violence. These resources provide general legal information; legal advice or representation must come from a lawyer. If you are looking for more legal information, check out our Legal Remedies Toolkit.
Is That Legal? West Coast LEAF. This resource is available in Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish, English and French.
Did you Know in Canada it’s Illegal To? (PDF), Canadian Centre for Child Protection
The Private Use Exception Rule and the Sharing of Intimate Images
Word of Caution
This toolkit is available as read-only on this website with an option to download the PDF versions of each document. If you are reading this toolkit on a device that may be monitored by your abuser, do not download the PDF versions as they will automatically save in your downloads folder. If you think that someone is monitoring your phone, use a different device that the person cannot access (and that they have not had access to in the past), such as a computer at a library or a friend's phone. You can also use sheltersafe.ca to find a shelter/transition house near you to discuss options with an anti-violence worker.