SALT LAKE CITY — Digital abuse is a form of emotional and verbal abuse that targets victims through technology, like cellphones or social media. Like all forms of abuse, it is used to control and manipulate one's partner.

Anyone can be a victim of digital abuse, but it is more common in young people because many are frequently using technology. A recent report showed teens in the United States spend about nine hours a day using media.

Monitoring your child’s phone and social media accounts can help your child recognize digital abuse and protect him or her from becoming the abuser.

Here are the two most common ways digital abuse happens.

1. Cellphones

Sexting — the act of exchanging messages and pictures or videos containing sexually explicit content, predominantly through texting — can be one form of digital abuse. Sexting involving a minor is illegal and participants can be charged with a felony.

Additionally, if your partner frequently checks your phone and monitors your messages, pictures and phone calls, you will need to address your privacy and safety.

Demanding you to respond to messages and phone calls you don’t want to respond to is abuse. If your partner sends so many messages you feel you can’t detach from your phone, that is also digital abuse. Both can lead to greater problems such as stalking.

2. Social media

Harassing a person through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or any other form of social media is a type of digital abuse. Making fun of someone or saying unkind things using a status on Facebook is an example of this kind of abuse. It can go as far as being tagged in embarrassing, unkind pictures on social media.

Cyberbullying, as this abuse has been labeled is usually carried out by someone other than a romantic partner. But research shows those who experience cyberbullying increase their chances of being digitally abused by a dating partner.

If your partner is keeping track of your online passwords to get into accounts without your permission, or tracking messages and pictures on a cellphone, this qualifies as digital abuse.

Digital abuse is often associated with physical abuse. In fact, the Urban Institute reports 52 percent of digital abuse victims said they were also physically abused.

Additionally, teens who experienced digital sexual abuse were five times more likely to experience sexual coercion in their relationships than teens who were not digitally abused, according to the National Online Research Center on Violence Against Women.

Look for these additional signs of digital abuse. The abuser:

1. Controls who your friends are on Facebook.
2. Pressures you to send pictures or messages you don’t feel comfortable with.
3. Keeps track of you on social media.
4. Searches your photos, texts and calls.

It is important for you to know your rights in a dating relationship:

1. It is OK to turn off your phone, cancel your social media accounts, and have privacy to your passwords.
2. No one has the right to demean you and pressure you to make choices you don’t want to make.
3. You never need to respond to threatening or harassing emails, texts, photos or phone calls.

If you feel you are being digitally abused you can visit LoveIsRespect.org to get resources for help.

Candace is a freelance writer, victim advocate and stay-at-home mom and wife.

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