Danger Zone...Teen Dating Violence

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DATING VIOLENCE?

Dating violence isn’t an argument every once in a while, or a bad mood after a bad day.

Dating violence (or relationship abuse) is a pattern of violent behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Abuse can cause injury or even death, but it doesn’t have to be physical. It can include verbal and emotional abuse—constant insults, isolation from friends and family, name calling, controlling what someone wears—and it can also include sexual abuse.

It can happen to anyone, at any age, no matter what race or religion they are, no matter what their level of education or economic background. Dating violence also occurs in same-sex relationships.

Take care and STAY SAFE!

Love Is Not Abuse-Liz Claiborne

MTV launches “A THIN LINE” initiative to decrease spread of digital abuse

Love is respect.org is so excited to announce that their live chat function will be featured as a direct link on MTV’swebsite. This will occur as part of MTV’s “A THIN LINE.” This initiative seeks to empower youth to identify, respond to and stop the spread of digital abuse. Digital abuse refers to behaviors such as sexting, cyber-bullying and digital dating abuse. According to a study released by MTV and the Associated Press, 50 percent of 14-24 year olds have been the target of some form of digital abuse, and 3 in 10 have engaged in “sexting.” If you haven’t experienced this abuse yourself, there is a good chance one of your close friends has.

MTV’s “A THIN LINE” will be putting out a lot of on-air specials, PSAs and a lot of cool online and mobile tools. We are proud to partner with MTV on this initiative with other digital abuse experts including Facebook, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Liz Claiborne, Inc., DoSomething.org and more. Their website has really fun features including an interactive quiz, a “Redraw the Line Challenge” and great resources, so be sure to check out ATHINLINE.org!