Red Flags of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence

Many of the warning signs of TFGBV are similar to the warning signs of GBV in the physical world:

• Fear of being away from technology
• Constantly being on their phone or social media
• Panicking at phone notifications
• Hiding technology (screens) from others
• Fear of internet use
• Increased reliance on technology
• Sudden behavior changes such as:
  • Becoming withdrawn, moody, or irritable
    • Withdrawing from friends and family
    • Withdrawing from activities and hobbies
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
• Sudden changes in appearance, especially neglect of appearance
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Dropping out of activities and becoming more isolated and withdrawn
• A new online "friend" or network prospective victims seem infatuated with and/or scared of
• Receipt of anonymous gifts, such as items delivered to your home, currency, gaming currency or other virtual items
• Threatening to commit suicide and openly talking about death, not being wanted or needed, or not being around
• Law enforcement being called to the home under false pretenses (known as swatted or doxxed) by an unknown person

Warning signs of perpetration and what to look out for online:

• Receiving a friend request from someone you do not know online
• Conversations with new ‘friend’ turning sexual quickly
• Moving conversation to other apps (aka WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc.)
• Being encouraged to keep conversations/friendship a secret
• Using technology to:
  • Check up on or stalk partner
  • Isolate partner from loved ones
  • Mock, threaten, humiliate, or intimidate a partner
    • Criticize online
    • Share intimate images
    • Share personal information
    • “Out” sexual orientation or preferred gender identity
  • Control partner’s relationships
  • Control partners access to bank, communication, or immigration status accounts
  • Pressure partner to send intimate images, videos, and/or messages
  • Extort money from others on the internet
  • Create or distribute synthetically altered sexual images, video, and/or audio

As technology evolves, so do the resources available for survivors. From services that work to take down non-consensual intimate images to educational materials that help you understand technology-facilitated abuse, keep up to date on the resources available to combat technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Visit the Resources Page

New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline

If you or someone you know is experiencing technology-facilitated abuse. The NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is free, confidential, available 24/7, 365 days a year, and available in most languages.

Text: 844.997.212

Call: 800.942.6906

Chat: opdv.ny.gov

For more resources and information related to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, visit our Technology and Gender-Based Violence Webpage.