What is digital abuse?
Digital or online abuse is when someone uses technology to maintain power and control over another. Online abuse is a type of domestic abuse and sadly, it has become more common in recent years in our digital age.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask to speak to the Police.
What is online abuse?
Digital or online abuse can happen to anyone, although it often happens in romantic relationships. It includes monitoring, stalking, harassing, threatening, humiliating or controlling another person using technology, such as social media or instant messaging.
What counts as digital abuse?
Digital abuse can take many forms and with new ways to communicate online being launched all the time, there are numerous forms it can take.
Examples of online abuse include:
- Controlling online banking.
- Taking away your control of online devices, such as your mobile phone, computer and even smart home devices such as thermostats.
- Using tracking software or spyware to track you online.
- Posting photos of you online without your consent (sometimes known as ‘revenge porn’).
- Sending you threatening messages online.
- Sending threatening messages, pretending to be you.
- Posting information about you online.
Sometimes, digital abuse is accompanied by other forms of domestic violence, such as mental or physical abuse, coercive control and financial abuse.
Domestic abuse can sometimes be hard to spot and sometimes people don’t realise certain behaviours are abusive. For example, you may presume that your partner controls your online banking because they are ‘better at that sort of thing’ or are more technically savvy than you.
How to prevent digital abuse
There are various simple steps you can take to protect yourself against digital or online abuse.
These include:
- Use strong passwords and different passwords for each device or app/channel.
- Check the privacy settings on your social media platforms (click here for guidance).
- Protect your devices with a password or PIN, or use face recognition.
- Turn off location services, especially if you are being tracked.
- Clear your internet browsing history regularly.
- Speak to your bank about how they can protect you against being locked out or given access to your money without permission.
Useful links for protecting yourself online
- Cyber Aware: advice on how to stay secure online, including email security and online passwords.
- Revenge Porn Online: advice for those experiencing intimate image abuse.
- The Cyber Helpline: advice about surveillance cameras, location trackers and audio ‘bugs’.
How to get help for digital abuse
If you think that you or someone you know is subject to online abuse, it is important to get help as soon as possible.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If it isn’t an emergency, it is still important to get help; you can report digital abuse online, by calling 101 or by going to your local police station.
Once you have reported it, get in touch with our specialist domestic abuse solicitors. We can help put an order in place to keep you safe and help stop further abuse, whether that is digital abuse or any other type of domestic violence.
To speak to a member of our friendly team, call us on 0117 325 2929 or fill out our online enquiry form and we will be in touch.