SEXUAL COMMENTS ARE THE MOST FREQUENT FORM OF DIGITAL VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS.

57%

of girls have been exposed to online comments with sexual connotation

9%

of girls have had their privately sent videos or photos posted

8%

of girls have been exposed to blackmail of sexual nature (‘i’ll post your photos unless you…’)

THREATS OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE ARE THE MOST COMMON FORM OF DIGITAL VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUNG MEN.

55%

of young men have been exposed to threats to their physical safety

15%

of young men have been exposed to pressure to watch online porn or to take part in pornography inspired acts

WHO COMMITS VIOLENCE IN A RELATIONSHIP?

1/3

of GIRLS reported that almost all forms of repeated violence against them were committed by their PARTNER or an EX-PARTNER

HOW DO YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL IN A SITUATION OF DIGITAL VIOLENCE?

GIRLS

“Helpless and frightened”

BOYS

“It’s no big deal”

WHO SENDS, AND WHO RECEIVES NUDES?

UNWANTED PHOTOS OF OTHERS’ PRIVATE PARTS ARRIVE IN GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ INBOXES – WITH THE SAME FREQUENCY

Who receives unwanted nudes?

Girls and boys with almost equal frequency.

Who sends unwanted nudes?

Boys more often than girls.

Ridiculing someone online for being gay/lesbian/bisexual?
ONE THIRD OF YOUNG MEN THINK THIS IS OK OR ARE UNCERTAIN

Boys entering girls’ changing rooms and taking snapshots as a form of teenage entertainment?
FOR ONE THIRD OF THE BOYS THIS IS EITHER OK OR THEY ARE UNCERTAIN

Is the request that his/her partner be constantly available
on chat a form of violent behavior?
FOR ONE THIRD OF GIRLS AND BOYS RESPECTIVELY, CONSTANT ONLINE AVAILABILITY IS – OK

Someone from your chat group sent a female friend’s nudes that her boyfriend had been sending to his male friends.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE THE GIRL WHOSE PHOTOS
ARE IN THE CHAT GROUP?

MOST YOUTHS WOULD BREAK UP THE VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP.
ONE IN THREE YOUTHS WOULD TALK TO HER/HIS PARENTS, WHEREAS THE FEWEST ARE THOSE WHO WOULD TALK TO THEIR TEACHERS.

I would report it all to the police

I would talk to my parents

I would ask my male or female friends for advice

I would want to take revenge, I would look for a way to embarrass him the same way he embarrassed me

I would be very angry at my boyfriend and I would break up with him

There is nothing I can do. Except wait for everything to be over, I would feel terribly ashamed

I would talk to a female or male teacher I trust

WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A MEMBER OF THE GROUP?

MOST OF THE GIRLS EXPRESS CONCERN FOR THEIR FEMALE FRIEND. STILL, A SIMILAR NUMBER OF GIRLS AND BOYS BLAME THE VICTIM.

Concern for the female friend whose photos ended up on the chat group and proactive attitude

High awareness that the situation is unacceptable – reacting to the problem and suggesting solutions

Awareness of the problem, but assuming a passive onlooker’s role

Blaming the victim

Unaware of the problem – ridiculing and downplaying

Report “Awareness and attitudes of secondary school students towards youth intimate partner violence” was prepared by the Autonomous Women’s Center. Identical research was done in Hungary, Croatia and Spain, within the project “I can choose to say no. Empowering youth, especially girls, to stand up against cyber sexual and gender-based violence in intimate partner relationships”.

248 young people age 14-19 (60% of girls and 40% of boys) from 10 high schools from Prijepolje, Paraćin, Pančevo, Novi Sad and Belgrade participated in the research. The sample is not representative, so the data should be analyzed as a baseline for further research on these topics.

*good news is that a very small percent of youth who reported that they experienced certain forms of violence said that they experienced it more times or often, so data should be taken with caution. Still, this shows that we need further research specifically focused on youth partner relationships.