Question: Is “technology-facilitated” violence actually violence?

Answer: Yes. TFGBV is real violence because it causes real harm. Even though it happens through phones, social media, or online platforms, it can still affect a person’s safety, mental health, dignity, relationships, access to services, and overall wellness.

TFGBV is real but it can look different than offline violence. There is often a digital device (like a phone, computer, iPad/tablet, video game system, etc.) that physically separates the person being hurt from the person committing the violent act (the perpetrator).

Sometimes, what starts as online violence can lead to offline violence. For example, a perpetrator may begin cyberstalking someone, but eventually, begin stalking them in-person using the location they shared on social media. In many cases, online violence has led to femicide or physical abuse.

The reverse can also be true. What begins as offline abuse (such as domestic violence) can then start happening using technology as weapon. For example, a perpetrator has been committing intimate partner violence through emotional abuse, but soon begins controlling their partner’s ability to use her phone and computer.

What Counts as Violence?

Violence isn’t always physical. It can happen with words, actions, or technology. To help you understand whether an action or event is violent, ask yourself two questions:

1. “Is it harmful?” 
2. “Is the harm on purpose?”

Let’s talk more about these two questions.

1. Is it harmful?

This question is asking if the action or event is hurting or intruding on someone’s body (including digital images/media/content that involves your body), your privacy, your feelings, or things that belong to you?

Violence causes real harm, even if it happens online or through digital technology.

Harm can be…

• Emotional (fear, anxiety, shame, sadness);
• Social (ruined relationships, employment, education, reputation);
• Physical (threats, doxxing, stalking, stealing physical devices);
• Financial (stealing money, pressuring you to pay, ruining your career);
• Digital (hacking into accounts, sending unwanted images), or;
• Threatening to do things that will cause other forms of harm.

2. Is the harm on purpose?

Violence is intentional, not an accident. Violent actions are when someone is doing or saying something because they wish to…

• Scare;
• Hurt;
• Control;
• Embarrass;
• Pressure;
• Intimidate, or;
• Steal from someone else.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to identify when something is violence, especially if it isn’t a well-known form of violence. TFGBV still not well-known or recognized as violence by many people. This is why it is vital to understand the definition of TFGBV, and to be able to recognize different forms of TFGBV.

Another way to look at TFGBV and the “what is violence?” question, is by viewing threats of violence as being malicious (or, intentionally bad, or inappropriate), negligent (where there was a conscious inappropriate behaviour, but without any bad intent), or accidental (where there was no intentionally inappropriate behaviour and no bad intent).

• Being harassed online
• Online bullying / cyberbullying
• Social media abuse
• Being “dragged” online
• Technology-facilitated violence
• Digital abuse
• Online violence
• Cyber-harassment

This list is not complete, and you may come across other terms or phrases that people use to talk about TFGBV. The important part is that you understand that these terms mean similar things.

Before we learn about about the different types of TFGBV, check your existing knowledge with the quiz below.

Resources