Shape The Sky Resources

Digital Domestic Abuse

Youth in this digital world meet and form relationships in-person, but also online. These resources are helpful for parents, educators, and professionals to understand controlling or unhealthy behaviors in relationships.

Recognizing Digitally Abusive Relationships

For parents, when youth are in a digitally abusive relationship, it can be difficult to see the behaviors as they are hidden in texts and social media. For youth, it can be even more difficult to leave a relationship once they recognize it's abusive. 

In today’s digital age, youth often communicate with their significant other via text, FaceTime, or Snapchat. Because of this, unhealthy relationships have taken on a new form. When we think of dating abuse, our mind often goes to physical or verbal abuse or violence. Today, unhealthy relationships can include sending excessive texts, demanding inappropriate images, using GPS tracking apps, and spying through fake social accounts.

Adults probably have conversations with their children about not engaging in certain activities, such as sending nudes. However, do adults talk to their children about not requesting nudes from others? Probably not as much. That’s why it’s important to have conversations about digital dating. 

Both in-school and at home, it’s necessary for adults to be aware of unhealthy relationship signs and what they can do to help youth in abusive relationships. 

Digitally Abusive Relationships

When youth are in relationships, they may not be aware of red flags or abusive behaviors. These resources are helpful for understanding dating red flags, knowing unhealthy dating signs, and learning what is considered an abusive relationship in-person and online.

CETA Clinic to End Tech Abuse

CETA - Clinic to End Tech Abuse

The Clinic to End Tech Abuse, CETA, has created some step-by-step how-to guides to "help survivors, support workers, and technologists discover and address tech-related risks." There are many great guides such as; disconnecting from your ex-partner step-by-step, checking your smartphone for spyware, turning on extra security for iCloud, checking for hidden apps on an Android device, Facebook Instagram WhatsApp TikTok security settings and many others. They also have provided a Technology Assessment Questionnaire that would help guide someone supporting a survivor of abuse. If you need a "how to", this site will be of great value. 

Alinas Light

Alina's Light

"The mission of Alina’s Light is to honor Alina’s legacy by raising awareness & promoting domestic violence education through outreach, scholarships & donations." Alina Sheykhet was murdered by a former boyfriend in 2017 at the age of 20. Her family has created Alina's Law which would allow that a "judge can order that the defendant be affixed with a device that will notify the local police and the victim if the defendant violates the PFA by entering into an area from which he has been excluded by the order. This will give the plaintiff the opportunity to get to safety. Further, once the order has been violated, the defendant’s location will be tracked until the police make contact with the defendant, the police determine the defendant is no longer a threat, and/or the defendant is arrested."

National Domestic Violence Hotline

National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline has many great tools. One of the resources provides examples of digitally abusive behavior and tips for dealing with the unique concerns that accompany digital abuse. 

Very Well Mind

Very Well Mind

This article by Very Well Mind defines what digital dating abuse is, teaches readers how to stay digitally safe, and what to do if they experience digital dating abuse.

Love is Respect

Love is Respect

Love is Respect shares many resources to use with individuals in unhealthy relationships. For instance, they have an online quiz that “scores” relationships to identify any unhealthy relationship warning signs.

The Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization

The Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization

The Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization was started by Dr. Gary Cuccia, father of Demi Brae Cuccia, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at the age of 16. His mission is to educate youth, parents, communities, and schools about teen dating violence and how to prevent it. DemiBrae offers resources to determine dating red flags.

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Dr. Megan Maas - Assistant Professor Adolescent Sexuality, Human Development & Family Studies

Megan Maas, PhD, is an assistant professor in Human Development & Family Studies at Michigan State University. She provides really great information based upon her research. Various resource topics are: Sexuality, Youth and Parent, Pornography, Teacher/School, Sexualization of Girls and How to Empower them, Computer Monitoring, LGBT and Sexual Assault & Child Sexual Abuse Resources. She has a blog with some great topics.