Latest news with #DVSafePhone
The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Dark side of young people's phone habit revealed
For many young Australians, tracking a partner's every move is a normal sign of love and affection, but there is a darker side to the growing trend. Online following and monitoring has become common among family and friends but research published by the eSafety Commissioner on Thursday suggests this behaviour might be spilling over into romantic relationships. Ashton Wood, chief executive of DV Safe Phone, said the trend was concerning and could have harmful consequences. Mr Wood leads the organisation that provides free mobile phones to domestic violence victims across Australia. "In domestic violence, we see lots around technology-facilitated abuse," he told AAP. "It becomes a method of control and before the victim realises it, their partner is watching everything." Mr Wood said it was important to have a safe phone - one that was not tracked or monitored. "It's really critical if someone's in danger to have access to a device that their partner doesn't know about, that can be used without fear of being tracked or monitored," he said. The eSafety Commissioner's research found 18.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 expected to track their partner whenever they wanted. The study surveyed 2000 Australians aged 18 to 75, asking whether they agreed with certain harmful expectations and attitudes linked to tech-based coercive control in intimate relationships. Tracking a partner can take many forms, including using Apple's Find My app or third-party apps such as Life360, which is popular among parents. Maneesha Prakash from the Youth Advocacy Centre works with young people and delivers community legal education programs in schools. The domestic and family violence lawyer said it had become widely normalised for people to track friends, partners and loved ones through social media. "Most apps have the ability to share locations," Ms Prakash told AAP. "(Young) people don't blink twice. They think it's normal. They think it's part of somebody caring about them. "That leads to them getting into quite toxic relationships and all the flow-on effects." The prospect of tracking a partner can be a form of tech-based coercive control, which is a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control someone within a relationship. "A lot of young people find it really confronting when you talk to them about coercive control and how it's not normal behaviour to be constantly monitored," Ms Prakash said. "We are seeing quite a lot of DV behaviours stemming from coercive control that comes with locating someone." Ms Prakash said there were significant gaps in knowledge that left young people at a disadvantage. "It's important to keep having conversations around consent and coercive control in schools and at home.," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 For many young Australians, tracking a partner's every move is a normal sign of love and affection, but there is a darker side to the growing trend. Online following and monitoring has become common among family and friends but research published by the eSafety Commissioner on Thursday suggests this behaviour might be spilling over into romantic relationships. Ashton Wood, chief executive of DV Safe Phone, said the trend was concerning and could have harmful consequences. Mr Wood leads the organisation that provides free mobile phones to domestic violence victims across Australia. "In domestic violence, we see lots around technology-facilitated abuse," he told AAP. "It becomes a method of control and before the victim realises it, their partner is watching everything." Mr Wood said it was important to have a safe phone - one that was not tracked or monitored. "It's really critical if someone's in danger to have access to a device that their partner doesn't know about, that can be used without fear of being tracked or monitored," he said. The eSafety Commissioner's research found 18.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 expected to track their partner whenever they wanted. The study surveyed 2000 Australians aged 18 to 75, asking whether they agreed with certain harmful expectations and attitudes linked to tech-based coercive control in intimate relationships. Tracking a partner can take many forms, including using Apple's Find My app or third-party apps such as Life360, which is popular among parents. Maneesha Prakash from the Youth Advocacy Centre works with young people and delivers community legal education programs in schools. The domestic and family violence lawyer said it had become widely normalised for people to track friends, partners and loved ones through social media. "Most apps have the ability to share locations," Ms Prakash told AAP. "(Young) people don't blink twice. They think it's normal. They think it's part of somebody caring about them. "That leads to them getting into quite toxic relationships and all the flow-on effects." The prospect of tracking a partner can be a form of tech-based coercive control, which is a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control someone within a relationship. "A lot of young people find it really confronting when you talk to them about coercive control and how it's not normal behaviour to be constantly monitored," Ms Prakash said. "We are seeing quite a lot of DV behaviours stemming from coercive control that comes with locating someone." Ms Prakash said there were significant gaps in knowledge that left young people at a disadvantage. "It's important to keep having conversations around consent and coercive control in schools and at home.," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 For many young Australians, tracking a partner's every move is a normal sign of love and affection, but there is a darker side to the growing trend. Online following and monitoring has become common among family and friends but research published by the eSafety Commissioner on Thursday suggests this behaviour might be spilling over into romantic relationships. Ashton Wood, chief executive of DV Safe Phone, said the trend was concerning and could have harmful consequences. Mr Wood leads the organisation that provides free mobile phones to domestic violence victims across Australia. "In domestic violence, we see lots around technology-facilitated abuse," he told AAP. "It becomes a method of control and before the victim realises it, their partner is watching everything." Mr Wood said it was important to have a safe phone - one that was not tracked or monitored. "It's really critical if someone's in danger to have access to a device that their partner doesn't know about, that can be used without fear of being tracked or monitored," he said. The eSafety Commissioner's research found 18.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 expected to track their partner whenever they wanted. The study surveyed 2000 Australians aged 18 to 75, asking whether they agreed with certain harmful expectations and attitudes linked to tech-based coercive control in intimate relationships. Tracking a partner can take many forms, including using Apple's Find My app or third-party apps such as Life360, which is popular among parents. Maneesha Prakash from the Youth Advocacy Centre works with young people and delivers community legal education programs in schools. The domestic and family violence lawyer said it had become widely normalised for people to track friends, partners and loved ones through social media. "Most apps have the ability to share locations," Ms Prakash told AAP. "(Young) people don't blink twice. They think it's normal. They think it's part of somebody caring about them. "That leads to them getting into quite toxic relationships and all the flow-on effects." The prospect of tracking a partner can be a form of tech-based coercive control, which is a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control someone within a relationship. "A lot of young people find it really confronting when you talk to them about coercive control and how it's not normal behaviour to be constantly monitored," Ms Prakash said. "We are seeing quite a lot of DV behaviours stemming from coercive control that comes with locating someone." Ms Prakash said there were significant gaps in knowledge that left young people at a disadvantage. "It's important to keep having conversations around consent and coercive control in schools and at home.," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 For many young Australians, tracking a partner's every move is a normal sign of love and affection, but there is a darker side to the growing trend. Online following and monitoring has become common among family and friends but research published by the eSafety Commissioner on Thursday suggests this behaviour might be spilling over into romantic relationships. Ashton Wood, chief executive of DV Safe Phone, said the trend was concerning and could have harmful consequences. Mr Wood leads the organisation that provides free mobile phones to domestic violence victims across Australia. "In domestic violence, we see lots around technology-facilitated abuse," he told AAP. "It becomes a method of control and before the victim realises it, their partner is watching everything." Mr Wood said it was important to have a safe phone - one that was not tracked or monitored. "It's really critical if someone's in danger to have access to a device that their partner doesn't know about, that can be used without fear of being tracked or monitored," he said. The eSafety Commissioner's research found 18.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 expected to track their partner whenever they wanted. The study surveyed 2000 Australians aged 18 to 75, asking whether they agreed with certain harmful expectations and attitudes linked to tech-based coercive control in intimate relationships. Tracking a partner can take many forms, including using Apple's Find My app or third-party apps such as Life360, which is popular among parents. Maneesha Prakash from the Youth Advocacy Centre works with young people and delivers community legal education programs in schools. The domestic and family violence lawyer said it had become widely normalised for people to track friends, partners and loved ones through social media. "Most apps have the ability to share locations," Ms Prakash told AAP. "(Young) people don't blink twice. They think it's normal. They think it's part of somebody caring about them. "That leads to them getting into quite toxic relationships and all the flow-on effects." The prospect of tracking a partner can be a form of tech-based coercive control, which is a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control someone within a relationship. "A lot of young people find it really confronting when you talk to them about coercive control and how it's not normal behaviour to be constantly monitored," Ms Prakash said. "We are seeing quite a lot of DV behaviours stemming from coercive control that comes with locating someone." Ms Prakash said there were significant gaps in knowledge that left young people at a disadvantage. "It's important to keep having conversations around consent and coercive control in schools and at home.," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Perth Now
Dark side of young people's phone habit revealed
For many young Australians, tracking a partner's every move is a normal sign of love and affection, but there is a darker side to the growing trend. Online following and monitoring has become common among family and friends but research published by the eSafety Commissioner on Thursday suggests this behaviour might be spilling over into romantic relationships. Ashton Wood, chief executive of DV Safe Phone, said the trend was concerning and could have harmful consequences. Mr Wood leads the organisation that provides free mobile phones to domestic violence victims across Australia. "In domestic violence, we see lots around technology-facilitated abuse," he told AAP. "It becomes a method of control and before the victim realises it, their partner is watching everything." Mr Wood said it was important to have a safe phone - one that was not tracked or monitored. "It's really critical if someone's in danger to have access to a device that their partner doesn't know about, that can be used without fear of being tracked or monitored," he said. The eSafety Commissioner's research found 18.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 expected to track their partner whenever they wanted. The study surveyed 2000 Australians aged 18 to 75, asking whether they agreed with certain harmful expectations and attitudes linked to tech-based coercive control in intimate relationships. Tracking a partner can take many forms, including using Apple's Find My app or third-party apps such as Life360, which is popular among parents. Maneesha Prakash from the Youth Advocacy Centre works with young people and delivers community legal education programs in schools. The domestic and family violence lawyer said it had become widely normalised for people to track friends, partners and loved ones through social media. "Most apps have the ability to share locations," Ms Prakash told AAP. "(Young) people don't blink twice. They think it's normal. They think it's part of somebody caring about them. "That leads to them getting into quite toxic relationships and all the flow-on effects." The prospect of tracking a partner can be a form of tech-based coercive control, which is a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control someone within a relationship. "A lot of young people find it really confronting when you talk to them about coercive control and how it's not normal behaviour to be constantly monitored," Ms Prakash said. "We are seeing quite a lot of DV behaviours stemming from coercive control that comes with locating someone." Ms Prakash said there were significant gaps in knowledge that left young people at a disadvantage. "It's important to keep having conversations around consent and coercive control in schools and at home.," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14
West Australian
15-05-2025
- West Australian
Dark side of young people's phone habit revealed
For many young Australians, tracking a partner's every move is a normal sign of love and affection, but there is a darker side to the growing trend. Online following and monitoring has become common among family and friends but research published by the eSafety Commissioner on Thursday suggests this behaviour might be spilling over into romantic relationships. Ashton Wood, chief executive of DV Safe Phone, said the trend was concerning and could have harmful consequences. Mr Wood leads the organisation that provides free mobile phones to domestic violence victims across Australia. "In domestic violence, we see lots around technology-facilitated abuse," he told AAP. "It becomes a method of control and before the victim realises it, their partner is watching everything." Mr Wood said it was important to have a safe phone - one that was not tracked or monitored. "It's really critical if someone's in danger to have access to a device that their partner doesn't know about, that can be used without fear of being tracked or monitored," he said. The eSafety Commissioner's research found 18.6 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 expected to track their partner whenever they wanted. The study surveyed 2000 Australians aged 18 to 75, asking whether they agreed with certain harmful expectations and attitudes linked to tech-based coercive control in intimate relationships. Tracking a partner can take many forms, including using Apple's Find My app or third-party apps such as Life360, which is popular among parents. Maneesha Prakash from the Youth Advocacy Centre works with young people and delivers community legal education programs in schools. The domestic and family violence lawyer said it had become widely normalised for people to track friends, partners and loved ones through social media. "Most apps have the ability to share locations," Ms Prakash told AAP. "(Young) people don't blink twice. They think it's normal. They think it's part of somebody caring about them. "That leads to them getting into quite toxic relationships and all the flow-on effects." The prospect of tracking a partner can be a form of tech-based coercive control, which is a pattern of abusive behaviour used to control someone within a relationship. "A lot of young people find it really confronting when you talk to them about coercive control and how it's not normal behaviour to be constantly monitored," Ms Prakash said. "We are seeing quite a lot of DV behaviours stemming from coercive control that comes with locating someone." Ms Prakash said there were significant gaps in knowledge that left young people at a disadvantage. "It's important to keep having conversations around consent and coercive control in schools and at home.," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Perth Now
Sinister side of tech used in domestic violence cases
Technological abuse is on the rise in Australia, with domestic violence perpetrators using mobile phones, smart watches and AirTags to track victims. Police are seeing growing instances of perpetrators placing trackers on cars, hacking Apple identities and tracking phones via location services. Tech is becoming a key means of coercive control, a form of abuse where perpetrators display a pattern of manipulative behaviour designed to intimidate and isolate victims. Pip Rae was gifted an Apple Watch from her now ex-partner. She didn't know he had connected the device to his own phone and was tracking her location. "In the digital space there are so many ways to abuse it, but it's really difficult to prove," she told AAP. "I was dealing with someone who knew how to manipulate the technology." Terry* experienced similar frustrations trying to prove her ex-partner was tracking her with technology and it took her months to work out he hacked her Apple ID. "For many months my phone was compromised and assisted them to find me a lot easier. It made their stalking behaviours easier," she said. "It's very frustrating when you don't feel like you're being heard (by police) and the perpetrator is very skilled at technology and you're not. "Tech abuse happens, it will continue to happen and it is wrong." Amanda* never thought she would experience family violence and found it difficult to identify because it wasn't physical. When trying to leave a coercive relationship she received a barrage of abusive messages and the perpetrator would constantly show up at places she visited. "Having an experience like this made me realise it can happen to anyone. It doesn't discriminate" she said. "Technology can be weaponised so easily and it just takes one person with an unhealthy intention." Domestic and Family Violence Awareness month is marked each May, an opportunity to raise community awareness of the impacts of violence and the support available to those affected. Australians are being asked to "answer the call" and donate mobile phones to a service that repair, repurpose and gift safe phones to survivors of domestic violence. DV Safe Phone, established in 2020, has provided 12,000 phones to domestic violence victims. There are more than 1000 collection points across Australia and a map on its website shows where phones can be dropped off. "So many people become so isolated with coercive control," founder Ashton Wood said. "The more we talk about what help is available, the more confidence we can give to victim-survivors to reach out for that help." Mr Wood urged people to check their drawers for old phones, as well as encouraging corporate officers to donate old work phones. Research by the eSafety Commissioner found almost a quarter of Australians believed it was reasonable to expect to have a partner's device codes. More than one in 10 thought it was reasonable to expect to track a partner using location-sharing apps. "Unfortunately every time there is an enhancement in technology, people will find a way to weaponise it," Mr Wood said. "The only way to not be tracked is to use a device the perpetrator doesn't know about." * Names have been changed to protect privacy. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14
