New study details scope of teen dating abuse in digital age

The Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center has released a study (published in the Journal of Youth & Adolescence) that shows the prevalence of teen dating abuse through technology.

Key Findings from “The Rate of Cyber Dating Abuse Among Teens and How it Relates to Other Forms of Teen Dating Violence:”

• 1 in 4 teenagers have been harassed or abused through technology.
• 96% of teens who experience digital abuse/harassment also experience other forms of violence from their partners.
• Almost one-third of teens are sexually coerced, which is 5x higher than teens in a relationship without digital abuse.
• Girls in a relationship are digitally victimized more often than boys, especially when the abuse is sexual. 15% of girls report sexual digital abuse, while only 7% of boys report the same.

The release of this study is timely, as February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention month.

Did the findings in this study surprise you? What can we do to address the way technology intersects with teen dating abuse?