Mobile phone is teen dating abuse weapon

Stan Beer
Monday, 12 February 2007 02:13

IT Industry - Strategy

New research has revealed startling evidence that mobile phones and the Internet are being used as weapons of abuse in teenage relationships with a disturbing level of frequency.

The survey, from Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU), found that teens in dating relationships are being controlled, threatened and humiliated through cell phones, by email and the Internet, while their parents remain completely in the dark. The most disturbing aspect of the TRU survey of 13-18 year olds is the shocking frequency of unreported abuse that is occurring.

According to the report, teenagers are using SMS, IM and email as a means to control their partner, checking up on them as much as 30 times an hour. In many cases, girls have reported being afraid not to respond to messages for fear of what their partner might do.

In other cases, cellphones and social networking sites have been used to spread embarrassing information about partners

Findings of the report include:

  * 71% of teens regard boyfriends/girlfriends spreading rumors about them
    on cellphones and social networking sites as a serious problem.

  * 68% of teens say boyfriends/girlfriends sharing private or embarrassing
    pictures/videos on cell phones and computers is a serious problem.