Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted. 44 percent of victims are under the age of 18. 4/5 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim (Statistics). So who/what is responsible for this increase? With the growing and mass producing new digital devices, it is harder to escape the use of them for communication and social media. New technology, as well as the media, are responsible for the recent increase in dating violence.
It is rare to find teenagers and preteens without a mobile device in their hands, it has adopted into a way of life. “More than 24 percent of teens reported that their social media sites were hacked without permission, texted about unwanted sex and that they were pressured to send sexual or naked images of themselves” (George 1). This new use of social media and technology provides a 24/7 platform for abuse which is often outside of the view of adults. It has become easier and easier over time to track the location of mobile devices which makes it even more difficult to escape an abusive partner. The fear of spreading screenshots of sexual or nude images also provides another layer of fear and intimidation that an abuser can use to keep a partner under their control.
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“81 percent of parents believe that teen dating violence is not an issue, or admit they do not know whether it is or is not an issue”(Duret 2). If the abuse was not currently due to an increase in technology than it would be more easily spotted amongst younger victims. Although it has been said once something is on the internet it never disappears, that does not mean that messages that show signs of abuse cannot be easily deleted or hidden from the view of an adult or guardian. Digital abuse can simply go unnoticed from the view of adults with a simple tap of the