Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month at Safety Net: A Month in Review

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month at Safety Net: A Month in Review

February always invites us to pause and reflect closely on young people and their relationships: the joy, vulnerability, and very real risks that can show up in both digital and in-person spaces. At the Safety Net Project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is always a call to equip the trusted adults in young people’s lives with tools that are grounded, practical, and, of course, survivor-centered. But this year, amid a rapidly evolving technological landscape and emerging avenues for abuse, that work has felt all the more urgent.

Technology is not ancillary to teen relationships: it is the ecosystem. And so, throughout TDVAM, our focus was clear: to meet young people where they are, and to support the adults and advocates who show up for them.

Read More

Best Practices for Technology Companies Responding to Traumatic Disclosures

Best Practices for Technology Companies Responding to Traumatic Disclosures

Technology companies frequently receive disclosures about traumatic experiences from their users. Despite their intended purpose and the critical role they can play in our lives, technology platforms and services are frequently misused and manipulated as a tactic of abuse. This can include online harassment, nonconsensual creation and/or distribution of intimate images, the spread of disturbing violence or threats, or unwanted location monitoring.

When traumatic experiences are reported, companies must be prepared to respond with empathy, respect, and effective options for recourse. The way these disclosures are received and handled can profoundly affect the safety and well-being of users.

Read More