{"id":30,"date":"2026-01-19T12:47:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T17:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=30"},"modified":"2026-04-27T18:41:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T22:41:39","slug":"what-is-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/chapter\/what-is-technology-facilitated-gender-based-violence\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 1: What is technology-facilitated gender-based violence?","rendered":"Chapter 1: What is technology-facilitated gender-based violence?"},"content":{"raw":"<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a id=\"quick-exit-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/google.ca\" title=\"Quick Exit\">EXIT SITE<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h1>Chapter 1: What is technology-facilitated gender-based violence?<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nBy the end of this chapter, we hope you:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Know what technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Know what counts as TFGBV.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\"<\/span><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">[pb_glossary id=\"83\"]<strong>Technology-facilitated violence<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary]\" ([pb_glossary id=\"83\"]TFV[\/pb_glossary]) is when someone uses technology like phones, computers, or the internet to hurt, scare, or control another person.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">\"[pb_glossary id=\"84\"]<\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1em\">Gender-based violence<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">[\/pb_glossary]\" ([pb_glossary id=\"84\"]GBV[\/pb_glossary]), is when someone is hurt or bullied because they are a woman or gender-diverse. There are many forms of GBV. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">\"[pb_glossary id=\"85\"]<strong>Technology-facilitated gender-based violence<\/strong>[\/pb_glossary]\" <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">([pb_glossary id=\"85\"]TFGBV[\/pb_glossary]),<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1em\"> is when someone uses technology to hurt, scare, or target women and gender-diverse people. It happens online or through digital devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe word \"violence\", is used to describe a lot of different behaviours and actions that humans can do to hurt others. There are many forms of violence that can occur, such as physical violence, sexual violence.\r\n\r\n<strong>[pb_glossary id=\"179\"]Physical violence[\/pb_glossary]:<\/strong> this means punching, slapping, cutting, kicking or hurting the body.\r\n\r\n<strong>[pb_glossary id=\"178\"]Sexual violence[\/pb_glossary]:<\/strong> this means any type of sex or sexual touch that is not wanted. For example, rape or sexual assault.\r\n\r\n<strong>Psychological or [pb_glossary id=\"177\"]emotional violence[\/pb_glossary]:<\/strong> this means using words or behaviours to hurt or scare someone.\r\n\r\nMany types of violence can that happen offline can also occur in online spaces or through using technology, which makes them forms of TFGBV. However, not all TFGBV leaves behind visible marks, injuries, or other physical evidence. Because of this, many people do not recognize TFGBV as actual \"violence\", and not treated as seriously.\r\n\r\nSo... <em>Is technology-facilitated violence <strong>actually<\/strong> violence?<\/em>\r\n<div>\r\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"><strong><img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"362\" class=\"wp-image-77 aligncenter\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h1>Question: Is \u201ctechnology-facilitated\u201d violence actually violence?<\/h1>\r\n<strong>Answer:<\/strong> 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\u2019s safety, mental health, dignity, relationships, access to services, and overall wellness.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"553\"]<img src=\"https:\/\/media.istockphoto.com\/id\/1462164505\/video\/phone-black-woman-and-frustrated-frown-of-a-person-on-digital-communication-reading-fake-news.jpg?s=640x640&amp;k=20&amp;c=kawfjhwtpAm0yeys6RGUdx6y4BJ1LEdi7kzBJkRZhU4=\" alt=\"A woman with Afro-textured black hair and brown skin, wearing a green shirt. She is looking at her mobile phone screen. Her expression is confused and upset.\" width=\"553\" height=\"311\" \/> TFGBV can be very distressing. Many survivors of TFGBV are left unsure about what to do, who to tell, or how to keep the violence from happening again.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nTFGBV 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 [pb_glossary id=\"93\"]perpetrator[\/pb_glossary]).\r\n\r\nSometimes, <strong>what starts as online violence can lead to offline violence.<\/strong> 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.\r\n\r\nThe reverse can also be true. <strong>What begins as offline abuse<\/strong> (such as domestic violence) <strong>can then start happening using technology as weapon.<\/strong>\u00a0For example, a perpetrator has been committing [pb_glossary id=\"1018\"]intimate partner violence[\/pb_glossary] through emotional abuse, but soon begins controlling their partner's ability to use her phone and computer.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\" style=\"text-align: center\">Activity<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span>[h5p id=\"1\"]<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h1>What Counts as Violence?<\/h1>\r\n<span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Violence isn\u2019t always physical. It can happen with words, actions, or <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-strikethrough-none text-decoration-underline\">technology<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-strikethrough-none text-decoration-none\">. To help you understand whether an action or event is violent, ask yourself two questions:<\/span>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><strong><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cIs it harmful?\"\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><strong><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cIs the harm on purpose?\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/disasterphilanthropy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/michelle-ding-hs3uAMTFd3g-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Violence against women and girls in disasters: How funders can fill funding gaps - Center for Disaster Philanthropy\" width=\"795\" height=\"614\" class=\"aligncenter\" \/>\r\n\r\nLet's talk more about these two questions.\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left\">1. Is it harmful?<\/h2>\r\nThis question is asking if the action or event is <strong>hurting<\/strong> or <strong>intruding on<\/strong> someone's <strong>body<\/strong> (including digital images\/media\/content that involves your body), your <strong>privacy<\/strong>, your <strong>feelings<\/strong>, or <strong>things that belong to you<\/strong>?\r\n\r\nViolence causes <em>real harm<\/em>, even if it happens online or through digital technology.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Harm can be...<\/strong><\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emotional (fear, anxiety, shame, sadness);<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social (ruined relationships, employment, education, reputation);<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Physical (threats, doxxing, stalking, stealing physical devices);<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Financial (stealing money, pressuring you to pay, ruining your career);<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Digital (hacking into accounts, sending unwanted images), or;<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Threatening to do things that will cause other forms of harm.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"406\" class=\"wp-image-78 aligncenter\" \/>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left\">2. Is the harm on purpose?<\/h2>\r\nViolence is intentional, not an accident. Violent actions are when someone is doing or saying something because they wish to...\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scare;<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hurt;<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Control;<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Embarrass;<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pressure;<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intimidate, or;<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Steal from someone else.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/person-who-uses-computer-malicious-260nw-2373192089-e1769014386779.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"220\" class=\"wp-image-117 aligncenter\" \/>\r\n\r\nSometimes, 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.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1015\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1316\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1015\"><img src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510.png\" alt=\"A two\u2011circle Venn diagram compares three types of inappropriate actions: malicious, negligent, and accidental. The left magenta circle represents malicious actions, defined by a conscious decision to act inappropriately and a motive to harm, with an icon of a person with devil horns. The right orange circle represents accidental actions, defined by no conscious decision and no motive to harm, with an icon of a person with a halo and wings. The overlapping middle area represents negligent actions, where there may be a conscious decision to act inappropriately but no motive to harm, shown with an icon of a person and \u201c!?\u201d above their head. Labels around the diagram mark \u201cconscious decision to act inappropriately,\u201d \u201cno conscious decision,\u201d \u201cmotive to harm,\u201d and \u201cno motive to harm.\u201d\" width=\"1316\" height=\"661\" class=\"wp-image-1015 size-full\" \/><\/a> \"Types of Actors\" (Taken from UNFPA, 2023).[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother 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).\r\n<div>\r\n<h1>Other terms used to refer to TFGBV<\/h1>\r\nWe want to make you aware of the other ways that people might refer to TFGBV. <strong>Other terms might include:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Being harassed online<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Online bullying \/ cyberbullying<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Social media abuse<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Being \"dragged\" online<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Technology-facilitated violence<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Digital abuse<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Online violence<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Cyber-harassment<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThis 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.\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\nBefore we learn about about the different types of TFGBV, <strong>check your existing knowledge with the quiz below.<\/strong>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Activity<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">[h5p id=\"2\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>Resources<\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>UNFPA. (2025). <i>An Infographic Guide to Technology-facilitated Gender-based Violence (TFGBV)<\/i> [Infographic Guide]. United Nations Population Fund. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/An%20Infographic%20Guide%20to%20TFGBV.pdf\">https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/An%20Infographic%20Guide%20to%20TFGBV.pdf<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li>UNFPA. (2023). <i>Guidance on the Safe and Ethical Use of Technology to Address Gender-based Violence and Harmful Practices: Implementation Summary<\/i> [Implementation Summary]. United Nations Population Fund. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/UNFPA_SafeEthicalGBVTechGuide_Summary_2023.pdf\">https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/UNFPA_SafeEthicalGBVTechGuide_Summary_2023.pdf<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a id=\"quick-exit-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/google.ca\" title=\"Quick Exit\">EXIT SITE<\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Chapter 1: What is technology-facilitated gender-based violence?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this chapter, we hope you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Know what technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Know what counts as TFGBV.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">&#8220;<\/span><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\"><button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-83\"><strong>Technology-facilitated violence<\/strong><\/button>&#8221; (<button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-83\">TFV<\/button>) is when someone uses technology like phones, computers, or the internet to hurt, scare, or control another person.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">&#8220;<button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-84\"><\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 1em\">Gender-based violence<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 1em\"><\/button>&#8221; (<button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-84\">GBV<\/button>), is when someone is hurt or bullied because they are a woman or gender-diverse. There are many forms of GBV. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">&#8220;<button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-85\"><strong>Technology-facilitated gender-based violence<\/strong><\/button>&#8221; <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1em\">(<button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-85\">TFGBV<\/button>),<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1em\"> is when someone uses technology to hurt, scare, or target women and gender-diverse people. It happens online or through digital devices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The word &#8220;violence&#8221;, is used to describe a lot of different behaviours and actions that humans can do to hurt others. There are many forms of violence that can occur, such as physical violence, sexual violence.<\/p>\n<p><strong><button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-179\">Physical violence<\/button>:<\/strong> this means punching, slapping, cutting, kicking or hurting the body.<\/p>\n<p><strong><button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-178\">Sexual violence<\/button>:<\/strong> this means any type of sex or sexual touch that is not wanted. For example, rape or sexual assault.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Psychological or <button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-177\">emotional violence<\/button>:<\/strong> this means using words or behaviours to hurt or scare someone.<\/p>\n<p>Many types of violence can that happen offline can also occur in online spaces or through using technology, which makes them forms of TFGBV. However, not all TFGBV leaves behind visible marks, injuries, or other physical evidence. Because of this, many people do not recognize TFGBV as actual &#8220;violence&#8221;, and not treated as seriously.<\/p>\n<p>So&#8230; <em>Is technology-facilitated violence <strong>actually<\/strong> violence?<\/em><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"362\" class=\"wp-image-77 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374.png 598w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374-300x270.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374-65x58.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374-225x202.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/14-1-e1768930580374-350x315.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1>Question: Is \u201ctechnology-facilitated\u201d violence actually violence?<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Answer:<\/strong> 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\u2019s safety, mental health, dignity, relationships, access to services, and overall wellness.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 553px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.istockphoto.com\/id\/1462164505\/video\/phone-black-woman-and-frustrated-frown-of-a-person-on-digital-communication-reading-fake-news.jpg?s=640x640&amp;k=20&amp;c=kawfjhwtpAm0yeys6RGUdx6y4BJ1LEdi7kzBJkRZhU4=\" alt=\"A woman with Afro-textured black hair and brown skin, wearing a green shirt. She is looking at her mobile phone screen. Her expression is confused and upset.\" width=\"553\" height=\"311\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">TFGBV can be very distressing. Many survivors of TFGBV are left unsure about what to do, who to tell, or how to keep the violence from happening again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>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 <button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-93\">perpetrator<\/button>).<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, <strong>what starts as online violence can lead to offline violence.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p>The reverse can also be true. <strong>What begins as offline abuse<\/strong> (such as domestic violence) <strong>can then start happening using technology as weapon.<\/strong>\u00a0For example, a perpetrator has been committing <button class=\"glossary-term\" aria-describedby=\"30-1018\">intimate partner violence<\/button> through emotional abuse, but soon begins controlling their partner&#8217;s ability to use her phone and computer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\" style=\"text-align: center\">Activity<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span><\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-1\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-1\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"1\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Section 1 Part 1a\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h1>What Counts as Violence?<\/h1>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Violence isn\u2019t always physical. It can happen with words, actions, or <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-strikethrough-none text-decoration-underline\">technology<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-strikethrough-none text-decoration-none\">. To help you understand whether an action or event is violent, ask yourself two questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><strong><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cIs it harmful?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><strong><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cIs the harm on purpose?\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/disasterphilanthropy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/michelle-ding-hs3uAMTFd3g-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Violence against women and girls in disasters: How funders can fill funding gaps - Center for Disaster Philanthropy\" width=\"795\" height=\"614\" class=\"aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s talk more about these two questions.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left\">1. Is it harmful?<\/h2>\n<p>This question is asking if the action or event is <strong>hurting<\/strong> or <strong>intruding on<\/strong> someone&#8217;s <strong>body<\/strong> (including digital images\/media\/content that involves your body), your <strong>privacy<\/strong>, your <strong>feelings<\/strong>, or <strong>things that belong to you<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>Violence causes <em>real harm<\/em>, even if it happens online or through digital technology.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Harm can be&#8230;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emotional (fear, anxiety, shame, sadness);<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social (ruined relationships, employment, education, reputation);<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Physical (threats, doxxing, stalking, stealing physical devices);<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Financial (stealing money, pressuring you to pay, ruining your career);<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Digital (hacking into accounts, sending unwanted images), or;<\/li>\n<li>Threatening to do things that will cause other forms of harm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"406\" class=\"wp-image-78 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127.png 614w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127-286x300.png 286w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127-65x68.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127-225x236.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/15-e1768933472127-350x367.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left\">2. Is the harm on purpose?<\/h2>\n<p>Violence is intentional, not an accident. Violent actions are when someone is doing or saying something because they wish to&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Scare;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hurt;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Control;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Embarrass;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pressure;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intimidate, or;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Steal from someone else.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/person-who-uses-computer-malicious-260nw-2373192089-e1769014386779.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"220\" class=\"wp-image-117 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/person-who-uses-computer-malicious-260nw-2373192089-e1769014386779.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/person-who-uses-computer-malicious-260nw-2373192089-e1769014386779-65x63.jpeg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/person-who-uses-computer-malicious-260nw-2373192089-e1769014386779-225x217.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, it&#8217;s difficult to identify when something is violence, especially if it isn&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1015\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1015\" style=\"width: 1316px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510.png\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1015\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510.png\" alt=\"A two\u2011circle Venn diagram compares three types of inappropriate actions: malicious, negligent, and accidental. The left magenta circle represents malicious actions, defined by a conscious decision to act inappropriately and a motive to harm, with an icon of a person with devil horns. The right orange circle represents accidental actions, defined by no conscious decision and no motive to harm, with an icon of a person with a halo and wings. The overlapping middle area represents negligent actions, where there may be a conscious decision to act inappropriately but no motive to harm, shown with an icon of a person and \u201c!?\u201d above their head. Labels around the diagram mark \u201cconscious decision to act inappropriately,\u201d \u201cno conscious decision,\u201d \u201cmotive to harm,\u201d and \u201cno motive to harm.\u201d\" width=\"1316\" height=\"661\" class=\"wp-image-1015 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510.png 1316w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510-1024x514.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510-768x386.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510-65x33.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510-225x113.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/450\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-04-20-134510-350x176.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1316px) 100vw, 1316px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1015\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Types of Actors&#8221; (Taken from UNFPA, 2023).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another way to look at TFGBV and the &#8220;what is violence?&#8221; 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).<\/p>\n<div>\n<h1>Other terms used to refer to TFGBV<\/h1>\n<p>We want to make you aware of the other ways that people might refer to TFGBV. <strong>Other terms might include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Being harassed online<\/li>\n<li>Online bullying \/ cyberbullying<\/li>\n<li>Social media abuse<\/li>\n<li>Being &#8220;dragged&#8221; online<\/li>\n<li>Technology-facilitated violence<\/li>\n<li>Digital abuse<\/li>\n<li>Online violence<\/li>\n<li>Cyber-harassment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Before we learn about about the different types of TFGBV, <strong>check your existing knowledge with the quiz below.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Activity<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">\n<div id=\"h5p-2\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-2\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"2\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Section 1 Part 1b\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Resources<\/h2>\n<div class=\"csl-bib-body\">\n<ul>\n<li>UNFPA. (2025). <i>An Infographic Guide to Technology-facilitated Gender-based Violence (TFGBV)<\/i> [Infographic Guide]. United Nations Population Fund. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/An%20Infographic%20Guide%20to%20TFGBV.pdf\">https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/An%20Infographic%20Guide%20to%20TFGBV.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li>UNFPA. (2023). <i>Guidance on the Safe and Ethical Use of Technology to Address Gender-based Violence and Harmful Practices: Implementation Summary<\/i> [Implementation Summary]. United Nations Population Fund. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/UNFPA_SafeEthicalGBVTechGuide_Summary_2023.pdf\">https:\/\/www.unfpa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pub-pdf\/UNFPA_SafeEthicalGBVTechGuide_Summary_2023.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-83\" hidden><p>\u201cTechnology-facilitated violence\u201d (TFV) is when someone uses technology like phones, computers, or the internet to hurt, scare, or control another person.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-84\" hidden><p>\u201cGender-based violence\u201d (GBV) is when someone is hurt or bullied because they are a woman or gender-diverse. There are many forms of GBV.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-85\" hidden><p>Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is when someone uses technology to hurt, scare, or target women and gender-diverse people. It happens online or through digital devices.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-179\" hidden><p>Physical violence is punching, slapping, cutting, kicking or hurting the body.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-178\" hidden><p>Sexual violence is any type of sex or sexual touch that is not wanted. For example, rape or sexual assault.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-177\" hidden><p>Psychological or emotional violence means using words or behaviours to hurt or scare someone.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-93\" hidden><p>A person or group that does a harmful, illegal, or unkind act against someone else.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"glossary__tooltip\" id=\"30-1018\" hidden><p>This includes methods to harm or control a romantic or sexual partner beyond physical force, including sexual, emotional, financial, and technology-facilitated abuse. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":554,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-30","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-standard"],"part":33,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/30","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/554"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30"}],"version-history":[{"count":93,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/30\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1046,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/30\/revisions\/1046"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/33"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/30\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=30"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=30"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tfgbvsafetytraining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=30"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}