By Jaime Herndon

We’ve all heard about cyberbullying and its dangerous effects on kids and teens, but what about cyber dating abuse? Scientists at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh recently published a study in the journal Pediatrics that found that more than 40 percent of teens who seek care at school health clinics say they are being cyberstalked, harassed with texts, or are being blackmailed with explicit photos – not by a group of bullies, but by their significant other. The students in the study were between the ages of 14 and 19, and the most common report was girls stating their partner kept tabs on them through texting and their social media accounts. One-third of the girls said they’d been asked to send their partners explicit photos.

This kind of behavior is just another way for the abuser to control their partner, but in a more covert way than physical violence. The two are not exclusive, though – teens in these situations were more likely to also report physical violence from those partners, more likely to be having unsafe sex, and some girls reported their boyfriends were trying to force them to get pregnant.

Talking to kids and teens about healthy relationships before they start dating is crucial. Teachers, coaches, health professionals, parents, counselors, family members, and of course, we Savvy Aunties, can all be influential in children’s lives, and can teach them about being safe online and in relationships, healthy behavior, and where to get help in a dangerous situation. Adults can also model healthy relationship behaviors for kids and teens. If your niece or nephew comes to you with help for this, let them know it’s not their fault, and that you believe them. Now isn’t the time to stay silent; you can help them with things like talking with their parents, finding professional help, and ways to get out of the relationship and stay safe. 

Photo: Just2shutter
Published: November 25, 2014