Talking to Kids About Digital Abuse
The month of February, because of Valentine’s Day, is known for being the month of love. What better way to celebrate love than helping youth learn how to have safe and healthy relationships?
In this digital era, technology is often a big part of youth relationships. Youth can stay connected with crushes or romantic partners by texting, calling, FaceTiming, Snapchatting, and DM-ing. So it may not be surprising to learn that 25% of dating teens have been digitally victimized by their partners.
Here are some examples to share with youth about how digital abuse can look in a dating relationship:
- Spreading rumors online or through texts
- Pressuring for sexual photos
- Sharing pictures to friends without consent
- Using social media to monitor whereabouts
- Demanding passwords
- Texting constantly
Sharing these examples with youth can help them learn the red flags of digital abuse. To learn more, check out the links below and be sure to follow LifeSmart Youth on Facebook and Youtube!
Youth Advisory Council
LifeSmart Youth’s Youth Advisory Council recently created the flyers pictured above to raise awareness about healthy relationships within their schools and community. Click on the images to download the flyers and share with the youth in your life!
Do you know a young person in grades 7-12 who might be interested in joining our Youth Advisory Council?
Council members:
- Provide feedback on health education programming
- Create and implement an awareness campaign about teen dating violence
- Represent LifeSmart Youth in their communities
The Council meets virtually once a month, and members receive gift cards for each meeting they attend. Interested? Contact Lara at youthadvisory@lifesmartyouth.org for more info!
