Teen Dating Violence
By sharing information, increasing awareness, and offering support, we can work together as a community in True North’s overall mission of interrupting the cycle of violence through empowerment, to create a safe environment for all.
What Can Teen Dating Violence Look Like?
Cyber Violence a Growing Problem
Cyber (online) violence is the use of internet-connected devices and/or social media to intentionally cause harm to others. According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 5 women experience online harassment in Canada; 33% of those are young women between the ages of 15 and 24 (Government of Canada, 2022).
Teen Dating Violence is often perpetuated digitally, through text, social media, and other networking apps (like Snapchat). Cyber violence may look like hacking, impersonation, monitoring, or sharing rumours/gossip in order to humiliate and isolate an individual in daily life.
What can caregivers do?
- Be active in your teen’s cyber usage. Be aware of what they’re watching, who they’re talking to, and what they might be sharing.
- Foster a safe space that your teen feels comfortable going to for help and support.
- Talk about healthy & unhealthy relationships and challenge negative images/themes that might support violence.
- Listen and give nonjudgmental support; if your teen opens up about experiencing cyber violence, reassure them that no one deserves to experience abuse (even if they’ve made a mistake)