No person deserves domestic abuse. It’s something no one should have to go through. But unfortunately, domestic abuse in relationships and marriages is all to real.
What’s worse is that in the highly digital world that we live in, domestic abusers now make it even more difficult for their victims to escape them.
There is a growing trend in what experts are calling digital domestic abuse. Abusers in relationships are using technology as a means of intimate partner violence. In fact, in a survey from the National Network to End Domestic Violence, it was discovered that 50% of victim service providers reported offenders use cellphone apps to stalk survivors. In addition, another 41% reported that abusers use GPS tracking.
So how does digital domestic violence even happen? In many cases, it is somehow connected to the previously intimate nature of the abuser and survivor’s relationship.
How Digital Domestic Violence Happens
In our modern day, technology is a part of our everyday lives. But technology is a double-edged sword in that it can be used for good as well as bad purposes. In cases of domestic violence, it can be especially used for wrongful purposes.
Because of the nature of domestic abusers, their very goal is to control, assert total power and to harm. Using technology, partners who are abusive are able to be controlling as well as monitor their victims.
This is why it is important to be educated on the ways technology can be used to intrude on privacy. Here are some ways in which domestic abusers might try to use technology to infringe on their victim’s privacy:
- Through the monitoring of smartphones and computers
- GPS tracking devices can be installed in a car or on a phone by means of an app
- In home monitoring by use of remote surveillance
- If an abuser knows your login credentials to your email and other accounts, they may be able to gain access to these accounts
While these are some of the more common ways that domestic abusers use technology to intimidate and continue to harm their victims, these are not the only ways. It’s important to understand how to protect yourself from abusive partners to who try to use technology to continue to infiltrate your life.
How You Can Protect Yourself
Today’s digital world offers domestic abusers an number of tools at their disposal to try to continue to harass and harm their victims. The best thing to do is learn to practice digital safety when online, using your smartphone, or on social media.
When Browsing Online or Using a Computer
Internet browsing history can viewed and retrieved depending on if you are using private browsing or not. It’s best to not use a computer that an abuser may have had access to in the past. You can’t be certain if tracking software was installed without your knowing.
So when using a computer, it’s best to use one that you know a former abuser had no access to. Either a friend or family member’s computer, or new device altogether would be best to ensure optimal safety.
When Using Your Smartphone
What makes cellphones so vulnerable are the tracking abilities by means of GPS and other apps. In addition, if your cellphone was on a shared plan with a former partner, they may have access to your text and phone records.
So similarly to computers, getting a new device and on a new cell phone plan would help ensure that a former abusive partner could not compromise the phone in any way, or keep track of your call/text records.
When Using Email
Email offers an abundance of information to the types of accounts a person may have. If an abusive partner knows the password to your email address, they can easily access your email. A good first step to take would be create a new email account altogether with a new password that an abuser will not learn about.
In addition to these steps, it’s a good idea to enable Two-Factor Authentication to add an extra layer of security to your login process.
When on Social Media
Social media is a big one when it comes to online privacy. Social media can be extremely revealing to the location of its users.
In addition, photos posted on social media are also often stamped with location data so an abuser can see where you may have been recently. Not to mention, photo backgrounds can reveal identifiable landmarks which may reveal where someone may have recently been, and on what date.
The best recommendation here is to limit or eliminate social media use as much as possible for the time being.
Help is Available
If you are a survivor of digital domestic abuse, there is help available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers more information and resources on the topic of tech and social media safety.
If you need help getting out of an abusive relationship, contact us today. We are here to help in taking the necessary steps to do so.