Toolkit Background
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 teens, caregivers and anti-violence workers. This resource is for caregivers and anti-violence workers.
Digital Dating Violence means physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence that occurs between dating partners by texting, social media, and related online mediums. This term is also known as, and will be used interchangeably with, technology-facilitated violence throughout this report.
For anti-violence workers, experiences of digital dating violence may be disclosed during support and safety planning sessions. It can also be disclosed as part of violence prevention presentations (such as BCSTH’s Violence Is Preventable), referrals from schools and other community programs and when engaging in community outreach. This toolkit provides anti-violence workers and caregivers supporting teens through their experiences of digital dating violence with information, tips, handouts and resources.
Word of Caution: Some of documents in this Toolkit are available as read only documents on the BCSTH website with the option to download the PDF version of each handout. However, if you are reading this Toolkit on an “unsafe” computer, laptop or device, do not download the PDF versions as they may automatically save in your download folder. Some documents will download automatically when you click on the hyperlink in these documents and save a copy in an “unsafe” technological device would be one that you suspect is being monitored by the abuser.
What is Teen Digital Dating Violence?
- What is Teen Digital Dating Violence? – BCSTH
- What is Teen Dating Violence? – BCSTH
- The Relationship Spectrum – Love Is Respect [PDF Only]
- Understanding Teens and Technology: Safety, Privacy, & Empowerment- BCSTH and NNEDV [PDF Only]
- Responding to Teen Digital Dating Violence: Anti Violence Worker Survey Report – BCSTH [PDF Only]
Supporting Teens: Tools for Anti-Violence Workers
Technology safety planning should always be done in tandem with a more traditional safety planning. Online violence and offline violence are interconnected and it is important 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.
Teen Digital Dating Violence: Information for Caregivers
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 we are unfamiliar with technology. This section aims to provide helpful information to caregivers supporting their teens through digital dating violence.
- Supporting Your Teens Through Digital Dating Violence: Tips for Caregivers – BCSTH
- Talking to Your Teen about Unhealthy Online Relationships – Canadian Women’s Foundation [PDF Only]
- Talking to Your Teen about Healthy Relationships: Canadian Centre for Child Protection [PDF Only]
- The Importance of Seeking Support: Need Help Now [PDF Only]
- Parenting in an Online World: The White Hatter [Hyperlink Only]
Specific Resources
- What to do if your Teen is Being Cyberbullied – Canadian Centre for Child Protection [PDF Only]
- Self/Peer Exploitation: What Parents Need to Know – Canadian Centre for Child Protection [PDF Only]
- Self/Peer Exploitation: A Resource for Families: Need Help Now [PDF Only]
- Trauma and Youth who Have Experienced Online Exploitation – Need Help Now [PDF Only]
- Sexual Exploitation And Trafficking Of Children & Youth In Canada A Prevention And Early Intervention Toolkit For Parents – Children of the Street Society [PDF Only]
- Internet Lingo and Slang – Safer Schools Together [PDF Only]
- Steps You Can take to Remove Pictures off the Internet- Need Help Now [PDF Only]
- DIY Cybersecurity for Domestic Violence – HACK*BLOSSOM [Hyperlink Only]
Legal Remedies for Teen Digital Violence
The information sheets provided here are designed to help better understand the legal causes of action related to experiences of Teen Digital Dating Violence. The resources here provide general legal information. Legal advice or representation must come from a lawyer who can advise you whether you should do something in a lawsuit or whether you should take certain actions in a court matter.
- Info about Peace Bonds for Youth in BC – West Coast LEAF and BCSTH
- Legal Remedies for Cyberstalking – BCSTH [PDF Only]
- Legal Remedies for Distribution of Non-Consensual Images – BCSTH [PDF Only]
- Is That Legal?- West Coast LEAF [PDF Only]
- Did you Know in Canada it’s Illegal To? Need Help Now [PDF Only]
Additional Recommended Resources
This section provides additional resources that may be helpful experiences of Teen Digital Dating Violence.
- Other Helpful Resources for Experiences of Teen Digital Dating Violence – BCSTH [PDF Only]
- Violence Is Preventable Video Series- Victoria Women’s Transition House Society Video
- What’s the Deal: Activity Book Grade 7/8 – Canadian Centre for Child Protection [PDF Only]
- Its a Big Deal: Activity Book Grade 9/12 – Canadian Centre for Child Protection [PDF Only]
- It’s Your Body, It’s Your Image, Take Back Control: Video
Funding for this toolkit is provided by the Civil Forfeiture Office of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (MPSSG).
© 2021 BC Society of Transition Houses, Technology Safety Project.
This online toolkit, or any portion thereof, may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever as long as acknowledgment to the BC Society of Transition Houses is included in the product.