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Technology Safety Starts With You

July 6, 2016

By: The Safety Net team at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)

Violence against women comes in many forms and, in this digital age, technology is an ever-evolving tool being misused as a tactic to perpetuate harassment, stalking, and abuse. As we strive to end gender-based violence and inequality, addressing technology safety is critical. This requires:

  1. Harnessing the power of technology to raise awareness and get people engaged.
  2. Making online spaces safer and more accessible.
  3. Shifting cultural norms regarding people’s behavior towards other when using technology.
  4. Empowering women to take control of their technology.

Women deserve to be free of harassment and abuse in every aspect of their lives, including their use of and access to technology.

Infographic_CS-quote_Safety-Net-online-Tech-Safety

Here is what you can do to increase technology safety:

  1. Ask for consent before you share photos or videos of someone else through social media. People have different privacy preferences and some are based on their safety needs.
  2. If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it at all – and this includes via social media, text messaging, snapchat, or whatever technology communication tool is your favorite at the moment.
  3. Increase your privacy and security by using available settings within your social media and devices. Teach others how they can enhance their own technology privacy & security too. Learn more in our Technology Safety & Privacy Toolkit for Survivors.
  4. Raise your voice by using social media to engage and create social change. Follow NNEDV and other great organizations to raise awareness on important issues to women.
  5. Advocate for better laws, policies, and practices. Decisions are being made every day that impact your technology privacy (and therefore your safety).

The Safety Net project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) has been working on intersection of technology and violence against women for more than 15 years. For more information about Safety Net, technology safety issues, and available resources, visit: