Technology-facilitated Sexual Violence Research Articles

A Thousand Catcalls: Survivors’ Experiences of Sexual Violence in Online Dating

There is growing academic interest in the leisure spaces of online dating as a specific avenue of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV). Yet, limited attention is paid to survivors’ experiences and understandings of sexual violence intermediated by dating apps. Using feminist standpoint theory and an intersectional lens, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 current and former dating app (e.g. Tinder, Grindr) users of diverse identities and backgrounds who previously experienced sexual violence. Sexual violence was found to take a multiplicity of forms spanning the “online-offline” continuum that often co-occur and mutually reinforce their effects, including sexual assault threats, image-based harassment, gender/sexuality-based hate speech, and in-person sexual coercion and/or aggression. Depending on the experience frequency and severity, psycho-social outcomes range from indifference/mild annoyance to emotional trauma and social withdrawal. Findings underscore the profound personal and collective impacts of TFSV and the urgent need for coordinated, multisectoral responses.

Development and Validation of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Perpetration and Victimization Scales Among Adults.

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) includes different forms of digital violence, such as online gender-based violence, online gender- and sexuality-based violence, digital sexual harassment, online sexual coercion, and nonconsensual pornography. The aim of this study was to design and validate a measure to assess the perpetration and victimization of each dimension of TFSV. The relationships between the different dimensions and differences by gender and sexual orientation were also analyzed. The participants were a sample of 2,486 adults (69% women) from Spain, aged between 16 and 79 (M = 25.95; DT = 9.809) years. The Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Scales were found to be valid and reliable instruments, supporting our recommendation for the use of these scales. Network analysis and solution-based exploratory factor analyses showed that the dimensions of online sexual coercion and nonconsensual pornography clustered together. All the perpetration variables were related to sexism. Finally, cis women and nonheterosexual people reported higher victimization scores overall compared to cis men and heterosexuals, respectively, while cis men reported higher perpetration scores overall than cis women.

“It Started With a Nude”: Gangs & Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence

This unique qualitative study updates current literature on gangs and sexual violence by incorporating digital practices. This study applies the framework of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) which combines cyberstalking, coerced sexting, online sexual harassment, and sextortion, to the lived experience of young people in and around gangs in London. Findings are generated from a study that took place January–July 2015, which involved 240 young people taking part in 12 focus groups. Data is triangulated with content analysis of social media sites belonging to local gangs. Exploration of patriarchal and gendered practices that normalize sexual violence in gangs on and offline will be discussed. The link between gangs, TFSV, and criminal exploitation will also be established.

The role of gender and sexism in the moral disengagement mechanisms of technology-facilitated sexual violence

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) encompasses various harmful online behaviors, such as online gender-based hate speech, online gender-based violence, digital sexual harassment, image-based sexual abuse, and online sexual coercion. This study aimed to examine how moral disengagement varies based on the type of TFSV, and the factors influencing moral disengagement in TFSV situations. Specifically, the impact of participant gender, participant sexist beliefs, and victim–perpetrator gender was assessed. A total of 2950 respondents (70.3% women) between the ages of 16 and 79 (M = 26.33, SD = 10.09) participated in a vignette study in which the variables of interest (TFSV type, victim-perpetrator gender) were manipulated. The findings revealed that moral disengagement levels varied across different types of TFSV, with higher levels observed in cases of online gender-based hate speech, followed by online gender-based violence, digital sexual harassment, image-based sexual abuse, and online sexual coercion. Moreover, the results indicated that sexist beliefs, participant gender (i.e., being a man), and situations involving a woman perpetrator and a man victim were associated with greater moral disengagement. Additionally, it was found that sexist beliefs play a more significant role in moral disengagement for women than for men. This information, which emphasizes the role of gender socialization and sexist beliefs in the justification and normalization of this type of violence, is important for the development of prevention programs.

Exploring the Impact of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence on the Well-being of Undergraduate Students in Ni-gerian Tertiary Institutions

As the digital era reshapes human interactions, concerns regarding technology-facilitated sexual violence (TF-SV) have come to the fore. This study investigates the impact of TF-SV on the well-being and academic performance of undergraduate students in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Quantitative data were gathered from 360 participants from Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education and Lagos State University of Science and Technology, using random sampling. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between exposure to TF-SV and psychological distress indicators, including anxiety and depression. Moreover, negative correlations emerged between TF-SV exposure and self-esteem, suggesting a multifaceted impact on students’ psychological well-being. Academic performance indicators, including grade point average, showed a negative correlation with TF-SV exposure, indicating its potential to hinder educational success. The study advances knowledge by elucidating the nuanced repercussions of TF-SV within a Nigerian context and contributes to the broader discourse on technology-mediated vulnerabilities. Recommendations for educational institutions include awareness campaigns, digital literacy programs, support services, and policy reforms to create a safer digital environment for students. By addressing the complex challenges posed by TF-SV, institutions can safeguard students’ well-being and academic pursuits in the digital age.

Pengaruh Kekerasasn Seksual Yang Difasilitasi Teknologi Terhadap Depresi Pada Wanita Dewasa Awal Pengguna Media Sosial

This study aims to determine whether or not there is an effect of technology-facilitated sexual violence on depression in early adult women using social media. Technology-facilitated sexual violence is a series sexually aggressive or harmfully harassing behavior using communication technologies. Depression is a mood disorder characterized by feelings of sadness or loss of interest in activities for at least 2 weeks. This research was conducted on 150 female subjects aged 18-25 years who owned and used social media and had been victims of technology-facilitated sexual violence. The method used was a quantitative survey, in which participants were asked to fill out the Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence Scale and Beck Depression Inventory-II. The analysis used was multiple linear regression with the help of the statistical program IBM SPSS 25.00 for mac. The results showed that technology-facilitated sexual violence simultaneously plays a role of 36.5% of depression.

Technology-facilitated Sexual Violence in South Korea: A Content Analysis of a Website for Victims.

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is an emerging form of gender-based violence. An understanding regarding the circumstance of TFSV and related health outcomes is limited. This qualitative study analyzed postings from an anonymous Korean website on which women suffering from TFSV freely posted messages asking for help and voicing concerns. Victims made efforts to solve problems that remained unresolved, thereby creating difficulties in their daily lives, and compelling them to quit jobs or break social relationships. They reported mental health concerns including suicide ideation, anxiety, frustration, sleep disorders, and depression. Results infer the imperative nature of research, intervention, and political action.

Responding to gender-based violence in higher education: changes as a function of Covid-19

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to comment on how responses to gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education (HE) changed as a function of COVID-19. Since the original lockdown directive was issued by the UK Government in March 2020, there was an acute awareness of the impact the stay-at-home order could have on prevalence and patterns of GBV, with technology-facilitated sexual violence and domestic abuse being of particular concern (Universities UK, 2020).Design/methodology/approachWe give the illustrative example of our learning (from 2020 to 2022) around how we have changed our approach to supporting survivors to access information and support, and the conduct of investigations during this period.FindingsFor HE Institutions who were quick and keen to embrace online teaching, there was a necessity to recognise that this change in learning environment may bring an increase in online forms of sexual misconduct, and additional challenges associated with supporting survivors who were often remote from university campus. Subsequently, and swiftly, responses to GBV in HE (including formal investigations where requested) needed to change to ensure those who were subjected to sexual misconduct could access support and information, in the knowledge that they would not be disadvantaged by bringing their reports forward during a time of global uncertainty.Originality/valueAn insight is provided on the changes adopted to respond to GBV on campus during the early pandemic, and the impact that these changes have had to the provision of specialist service delivery over two years on.

Information and Communication Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (ICTFSV) pada Remaja: Pengalaman di Indonesia

This study discusses adolescents’ perceptions of ICT-facilitated sexual violence (ICTFSV) based on gender and school type. The research was conducted by surveying 719 students in seven regencies/cities in Surakarta, Indonesia, which were purposively selected. The ICTFSV indicator was measured based on the theories of Henry & Powell (2016) and Baumgartner et al. (2010). Mann-Whitney U and two-sided tests were employed to analyze the data. This study finds the different perceptions of ICTFSV based on gender at SHS and VHS. Moreover, it also finds the different perceptions of ICTFSV among students of SHS and VHS. This provides a new understanding of gender-perspective integration and character-building in developing school policies. Therefore, further research on gender equality and character-building of education policy can be carried out. The analyzed object imposes many limitations, namely the selected sample, the research focus, the data collecting, and analyzing method.

“Embarrassing and disgraceful”: technology-facilitated sexual violence and victim’s healing process

This study aims to reveal the communication experience of victims of online gender-based violence and the healing process from the trauma they experienced. The main research questions are how victims experience violence online, what motives encourage perpetrators to commit violence from the victim’s perspective, the meaning of the communication experience, and the victim’s process of healing the traumatic experience. In this qualitative study, phenomenological methods and symbolic interaction theory were employed. The research subjects are women victims of online gender-based violence cases. Informants were selected through a purposive sampling technique. The results showed that most cases of threats of spreading intimate photos or videos were experienced by victims when they asked for a breakup or did not follow the wishes of the perpetrator. Victims of violence in the online realm are also vulnerable to multiple layers of violence. The video is used as a tool for the perpetrator so that the victim does not refuse to have sex with the perpetrator. The impact experienced by the victim is psychological loss, social isolation, and limited mobility. The three motives behind the above cases are relational, sextortion or extortion, and unknown motives. The meanings obtained from the communication experience of victims are shame, disgrace, loss of identity, feeling tarnished, and having mistrust of the opposite sex. The victims used various ways to heal themselves from the trauma, namely getting closer to God, telling stories to friends, and consulting psychologists.

The Role of Depression in the Effect of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence on Suicidal Ideation in Early Adult

The phenomenon of suicide ideation is a problem that needs to be examined at this time. This study investigates the role of technology-facilitated sexual violence experience and depression on the appearance of suicidal ideation in emerging adults. A quantitative research was conducted on a sample of 322 respondents aged 18–25 years. Three scales were used in this research: the Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Victimization Scale is established by Henry & Powell (2014), to measure the respondents’ technology-facilitated sexual violence experiences; Lovibond & Lovibond’s (1995) Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale to measure the respondents’ depression, anxiety, and stress; and Beck’s (1979) Scale of Suicidal Ideation established to measure the appearance of the respondents’ suicide ideation. The data were analyzed using the statistical correlation test, multivariate linear regression hierarchy, and path analysis. From the results, technology-facilitated sexual violence was found to have a significant effect on suicidal ideation in early adults. Furthermore, it was found that depression partially mediates the relationship between technology-facilitated sexual violence and suicidal ideation in early adults. This study is beneficial to developing a positive internet intervention approach to create more conducive virtual spaces.

Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Perpetration and Victimization Among Adolescents: A Network Analysis

IntroductionThe present study sought to analyze the relationships between different forms of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) perpetration and victimization, including gender- and sexuality-based harassment, digital sexual harassment, and image-based sexual abuse (IBSA), which includes both sextortion and non-consensual pornography.MethodsThe sample was composed of 1682 adolescents (865 girls; Mage = 13.90, SDage = 1.26) who completed self-report measures from November 2019 to March 2020. We conducted network analyses to analyze the relationships among different forms of TFSV perpetration and victimization.ResultsOverall, girls had higher victimization scores, whereas boys had higher scores in the perpetration of several forms of TFSV. Gender- and sexuality-based victimization formed a cluster with digital sexual harassment victimization, while sextortion and nonconsensual pornography victimization formed a differentiated cluster. Forms of IBSA victimization and digital sexual harassment victimization were strongly associated with their perpetration counterparts for boys, but this was not the case for girls.ConclusionsThe results revealed that the different forms of victimization and perpetration appear to be related and suggest that TFSV is a gendered form of abuse.Policy ImplicationsFindings from the present study suggest that preventive programs in schools and communities should be holistic and address various forms of TFSV.

Sexual violence and abuse in online dating: A scoping review

Online dating websites and apps offer an array of conveniences that have captivated those looking to form new relationships. However, as these platforms have grown in popularity, companies have had to grapple with their potential to act as catalysts for sexual violence and abuse both on and offline. In light of increasing anecdotal, popular media, and law enforcement reports, there is growing academic interest in online dating as a specific avenue of technology-facilitated sexual violence, with its own potential contextual drivers and safeguards. Using a scoping review methodology, the authors map this emerging literature's contours, characterize its theoretical, methodological, and empirical contents, and identify lacunae and opportunities for future research. Areas addressed in the current literature include the prevalence of digital sexual harassment and abuse, individual differences in victimization and perpetration, mechanisms by which online dating technologies facilitate or impede sexual violence, and responses from industry, policymakers, and the general public. Among other gaps, there is need for additional longitudinal and experimental research, qualitative analyses of online dating technologies' digital architectures, and investigation into the psychological and social sequelae of online dating violence. • This scoping review maps the current literature on sexual violence in online dating. • Literature contains a manifold of qualitative and quantitative study designs. • Research addresses digital sexual violence prevalence, predictors, prevention. • Four causal mechanisms: risky lifestyle, disinhibition, social embedding, technoculture • Need for additional longitudinal research, research on digital architectures, and more

Violence (Portrayals of Sexuality in Pornography)

Pornography is a fictional media genre that depicts sexual fantasies and explicitly presents naked bodies and sexual activities for the purpose of sexual arousal (Williams, 1989; McKee et al., 2020). Regarding media ethics and media effects, pornography has traditionally been viewed as highly problematic. Pornographic material has been accused of portraying sexuality in unhealthy, morally questionable and often sexist ways, thereby harming performers, audiences, and society at large. In the age of the Internet, pornography has become more diverse, accessible, and widespread than ever (Döring, 2009; Miller et al., 2020). Consequently, the depiction of sexuality in pornography is the focus of a growing number of content analyses of both mass media (e.g., erotic and pornographic novels and movies) and social media (e.g., erotic and pornographic stories, photos and videos shared via online platforms). Typically, pornography’s portrayals of sexuality are examined by measuring the prevalence and frequency of sexual practices and related gender roles via quantitative content analysis (for research reviews see Carrotte et al., 2020; Miller & McBain, 2022). This DOCA entry focuses on the representation of violence as one of eight important dimensions of the portrayals of sexuality in pornography.   Field of application/theoretical foundation: In the field of pornographic media content research, different theories are used, mainly 1) general media effects theories, 2) sexual media effects theories, 3) gender role, feminist and queer theories, 4) sexual fantasy and desire theories, and different 5) mold theories versus mirror theories. The DOCA entry “Conceptual Overview (Portrayals of Sexuality in Pornography)” introduces all these theories and explains their application to pornography. The respective theories are applicable to the analysis of the depiction of violence as one dimension of the portrayals of sexuality in pornography.   References/combination with other methods of data collection: Manual quantitative content analyses of pornographic material can be combined with qualitative (e.g., Keft-Kennedy, 2008) as well as computational (e.g., Seehuus et al., 2019) content analyses. Furthermore, content analyses can be complemented with qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to investigate perceptions and evaluations of the portrayals of sexuality in pornography among pornography’s creators and performers (e.g., West, 2019) and audiences (e.g., Cowan & Dunn, 1994; Hardy et al., 2022; Paasoonen, 2021; Shor, 2022). Additionally, experimental studies are helpful to measure directly how different dimensions of pornographic portrayals of sexuality are perceived and evaluated by recipients, and if and how these portrayals can affect audiences’ sexuality-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (e.g., Kohut & Fisher, 2013; Miller et al., 2019).   Example studies for manual quantitative content analyses: Common research hypotheses state that pornography depicts sexuality as violent and shows violent acts such as verbal aggression, physical aggression or image-based abuse being predominately perpetrated by men targeting women. To test such hypotheses and code pornographic material accordingly, it is necessary to clarify the concept of “violence” and use valid and reliable measures for different types of violence. In addition, it is necessary to code the sex/gender of the person depicted as the source and/or the target of the respective violent act (e.g., in the context of verbal sexual aggression, the target of verbal aggression is coded as female or male and the source of verbal aggression is coded as female or male). It is important to note that in the context of pornographic content research, researchers conceptualize violence differently. Also, it should be noted, that there is some overlap between the variable violence and the variable degradation in the context of pornographic portrayals of sexuality. For example, the depiction of “name calling” in a pornographic scene can be understood as an indicator of “violence” (namely verbal aggression) or of “degradation”. Name calling is covered here as verbal aggression (following Fritz et al., 2020), hence, it is not covered again as degradation, even though some authors do so (such as Gorman et al., 2010; see DOCA entry “Degradation (Portrayals of Sexuality in Pornography)”). In general, one can argue that all violent acts – apart from being potentially painful and harmful – have a component of degradation because they put the target of violence in a subordinate role. However, not all degrading acts are violent (e.g., degradation by systematic lack of sexual reciprocity does not entail overt aggression). Coding Material Measure Operationalization (excerpt) Reliability Source Violence: Usually, violence is defined as behavior directed toward the goal of harm or injury of another living being, who is motivated to avoid such treatment (McKee, 2015). However, in content analyses of pornography, violent behavior is often coded regardless of intention to harm or actual harm done. Instead, violence is coded with reference to the presence of prespecified behaviors (e.g., spanking, slapping, choking), even if these behaviors are presented as consensual and sexually arousing (Miller & McBain, 2022). Technology-facilitated sexual violence (image-based sexual abuse) addresses the illegal recording and dissemination of intimate imagery without consent, such as revenge porn, upskirting or spy cams (Henry & Powell, 2018). Mainstream pornography platforms partly disseminate illegal material and partly market some of their legal commercial pornography under these respective labels, hence pretending to provide non-consensual pornography (Vera-Gray et al., 2021). Apart from issues of performer health protection, violent acts are also regarded as relevant in terms of modelling behaviors for audiences. N=4,009 heterosexual scenes from 3,767 pornographic videos sampled from PornHub.com (574 scenes) and and Xvideos. com (3,435 scenes) Verbal aggression “An action that clearly does or could reasonably be expected to cause psychological harm to oneself or another person through name calling or insulting”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 97.5% (PornHub) / 88.9% (Xvideos) Fritz et al. (2020)   Physical aggression “Any action that clearly did or could reasonably be expected to cause physical harm to oneself or another person, regardless of the perpetrator’s intent and the target’s response”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 98.8% (Pornhub) / 97.6% (Xvideos) - Spanking (type of physical aggression) “Striking on the buttocks with an open hand”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 94.2% (Pornhub) / 96.9% (Xvideos) - Slapping (type of physical aggression) “Striking oneself or another with an entirely unclosed hand, group of fingers, or palm”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 99.2% (Pornhub) / 98.1% (Xvideos) - Gagging (type of physical aggression) “Any instance in which an object (including the genitals) is inserted into a person’s mouth, such that it appears to cut off their ability to breathe freely and/or causes them to experience a throat spasm”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 99.2% (Pornhub) / 96.7% (Xvideos) - Pulling hair (type of physical aggression) “Any instance where the hair on a person’s head is grasped or pulled on, such that the person’s head is pulled (even slightly) in a particular direction”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 100.0% (Pornhub) / 98.9% (Xvideos) - Choking (type of physical aggression) “To cause another to stop breathing, if only for a moment, by grabbing the throat”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 98.3% (Pornhub) / 98.8% (Xvideos) - Pushing (type of physical aggression) ‘‘Use of one’s hands, arms, or other body parts to force another person’s body or part of their body to move in a particular manner or direction”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Percentage Agreement: 95.0% (Pornhub) / 97.9% (Xvideos) N=131,738 titles of pornographic videos presented on the landing pages of the three leading mainstream pornography video platforms in the UK: PornHub.com, Xhamster.com, Xvideos.com Image-based sexual abuse Pornographic video title includes keywords indicating image-based sexual abuse such as “spy”, “hidden”, “upskirting”, “leak” or “revenge”. Binary coding (1: present; 2: not present). Not available Vera-Gray et al. (2021) At the same time, porn platforms may disseminate material without the consent of the depicted persons in such violence-indicating categories, but also in regular sub-genre categories (such as "Threesome", "Handjob"), making it impossible for coders to reliably detect all image-based violence.  

Young people's experiences of image-based sexual harassment and abuse in England and Canada: Toward a feminist framing of technologically facilitated sexual violence

This article reports on a qualitative research study Sharing Networked Image Practices (SNIP) among young people. We explore our findings from 37 focus groups with 206 young people aged (11–19) in London and South East England and Toronto, Canada conducted in 2019 and 2020. Drawing on feminist legal and criminological scholarship (Powell & Henry, 2017; McGlynn et al., 2017; McGlynn and Johnson, 2020) we develop a framework to clearly identify how and when image sharing should be constituted as forms of: (1) Image-Based Sexual Harassment (IBSH) (i.e. unsolicited penis images (‘dick pics’) and unwanted solicitation for nudes), and (2) Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA) (i.e. non-consensual image creation/sharing). We argue that categorizing non-consensual image sharing, showing and distributing as image-based sexual harassment and abuse rather than ‘sexting’ is an important conceptual shift to enable young people, schools, parents and all relevant stakeholders to recognize and address new forms of technology-facilitated sexual violence.

Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence Victimization during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Behaviors and Attitudes

ABSTRACT Despite the growing attention to Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (TFSV) experienced by adults, this is still an underexplored topic. This study involved a sample of 289 adults (aged 18 to 56), focusing on reported indicators of TFSV in a year dominated by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Reports of TFSV victimization were analyzed using an existing 21-item scale that encompassed four TFSV dimensions: i) digital sexual harassment; ii) image-based sexual abuse (IBSA); iii) sexual aggression and/or coercion; and iv) gender and/or sexuality-based harassment. While examining the experience of one or more TFSV behaviors by independent socio-demographic variables (e.g., gender, age, or sexuality), the results showed that women were significantly more likely than men to report several forms of sexual harassment victimization. LGB+-identifying adults were significantly more likely than heterosexual-identifying respondents to report 11 behaviors from the used TFSV victimization scale. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, many types of violence against women and the LGBT+ community have been intensified, and this study indicates TFSV as no exception to that. The results show gendered patterns in online sexual victimization, as well as in the nature of TFSV. These findings indicate the importance of considering additional institutional measures to prevent this phenomenon.

Technology facilitated sexual violence: a comparative study between working and non-working females in Egypt before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine measures policies increased Internet usage, leading to technological hazards as technology facilitated sexual violence (TFSV).AimThe current work aimed to assess TFSV among working and non-working Egyptian females before and during COVID-19.MethodsThe current work is a cross-sectional observational comparative study using an anonymous online questionnaire distributed through social platforms among working and non-working Egyptian females.ResultsTFSV was reported by 50.3% of the participants; however, regarding some forms of digital sexual violence, there was a significant decrease during COVID-19 lockdown than before it, considering; threatened creation form (7.8%, 12.0%; p = 0.017); non-consensual pornography (31.4%, 51.9%; p < 0.001) and online sexual harassment and cyber-stalking types (80.9%, 89.4%; p < 0.001). Only 17.3% of the study participants knew the identity of the perpetrator. TFSV led 6.4% to abstain from social media, and 3.9% reported the incident to a law agency.ConclusionsThe current study revealed that almost half of women experienced TFSV. Although time spent on the Internet by the whole participants during the pandemic was significantly higher than before, there was a significant decrease in some types of TFSV. The current study revealed that divorced females working in non-governmental sectors experienced harassment more significantly than others. There is crucial importance to set laws and penalties against perpetrators of TFSV to provide a safe technological environment for women.

Examining the Gendered Impacts of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: A Mixed Methods Approach.

Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is defined broadly as unwanted or unwelcome sexual behavior involving the use of technology, including online sexual harassment, online gender or sexuality-based harassment, online image-based abuse (colloquially known as "revenge porn"), and online sexual aggression/coercion (colloquially known as "sextortion"). The purpose of this study was to explore the victim impact of TFSV and to critically examine the positioning of TFSV as a gender-based harm; that is, a harm directed primarily towards women. This study employed a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative online survey data (N = 333; Mage = 33.91years; 63% women) with qualitative interview data (N = 10; Agerange = 24-46; 50% women) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of TFSV. We found that victims of TFSV experienced anxiety, stress, depression, loss of control, mistrust, multiple victimizations, poor academic/occupation functioning, problematic alcohol consumption, embarrassment, and online behavior changes (e.g., limiting personal information online) due to TFSV victimization. Individuals who experienced online image-based abuse reported greater distress on items of depression, anxiety, and occupational/academic functioning than did victims of other types of TFSV. The current study provides partial support for the gender similarities hypothesis that TFSV is not exclusively a gender-based harm; our findings suggest that women and men's TFSV experiences are similar for most TFSV types. Overall, the present study demonstrates the negative impact TFSV has for both women and men and highlights the need for greater awareness and increased support for all victims of this form of sexual violence.

Technology-facilitated sexual violence: a review of virtual violence against women

With the modernization of technology, new virtual forms of violence have emerged and old ways of perpetrating violence against women have been exacerbated with the use of the internet and social networks. This study aimed to investigate the forms of violence against women on the internet. This is an integrative literature review of the electronc databases SciVerse Scopus, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Scientific Electronic Library Online. The inclusion criteria were publications that occurred in the time span from January 2016 to July 2021, with the descriptors "Violence," "Internet," "Woman," "Gender," "Sexual Violence," "Sexual Harassment," "Intimate Partner Violence," and "Internet and Abuse".  As a result of the review, 30 articles were selected. Nine categories of violence against women on the Internet were identified, included in the concept of sexual violence facilitated by technology, in addition to digital dating abuse and cyberbullying. The most commonly addressed categories were digital dating abuse, revenge porn, sexting, and online misogyny. Most of the studies found concluded greater online victimization for women than for men in all categories except cyberbullying.

From myth to reality: sexual image abuse myth acceptance, the Dark Tetrad, and non-consensual intimate image dissemination proclivity

ABSTRACT Despite media attention on non-consensual intimate image dissemination (NCII), the literature on the personality traits, attitudes, and beliefs that predict NCII approval, enjoyment, and perpetration is limited. With a sample of 810 undergraduate students, we examined the relationship between dark personality traits, acceptance of image-based sexual abuse-related myths, and NCII. We found that 48.2% of our participants did not oppose NCII perpetration, 71.4% did not oppose NCII enjoyment, and 97.8% did not oppose NCII approval. Moreover, we found that being a man, heterosexual, and scoring higher in dark personality traits predicted acceptance of Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA)-related myths. In turn, accepting such myths predicted not opposing NCII proclivity. Our results underscore the importance of demystifying technology-facilitated sexual violence and promoting educational material that highlights lived experience and dispelling IBSA-related myths. PRACTICAL IMPACT STATEMENT This article may assist educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in designing strategies for the prevention of non-consensual intimate image dissemination (NCII) perpetration by explaining how acceptance of image-based sexual abuse myths, personality traits, and demographic characteristics are related to the willingness to accept, enjoy, or engage in NCII perpetration.