Many of us are using social media and online platforms more than we were pre-pandemic. They’re a way to help us feel connected and stay in touch with loved ones. But it’s important to stay alert when sharing information online or using websites that ask for personal information. This includes dating sites and apps.
Our Community Safety team are aware of an increase in cyber abuse and digital stalking (both forms of domestic abuse) which is linked to a rise of online activity. Cyber stalking and abuse include (but is not limited to):
- receiving threatening or malicious messages
- having accounts hacked into
- fake profiles setup in your name
- abusive content written online about you.
Research carried out by Women’s Aid about online domestic abuse has shown that:
- For 85% of participants the abuse they received online from a partner or ex-partner was part of a pattern of abuse they also experienced offline.
- Nearly a third of participants experienced the use of spyware or GPS locators on their phone or computers by a partner or ex-partner.
- Nearly a third of those respondents who had received threats stated that where threats had been made online by a partner or ex-partner, they were carried out.
Women’s Aid has been working hard to raise awareness about the abuse which can occur online, as well as how to stay safe while using digital platforms. They provide lots of information for anyone who might be experiencing cyber abuse, which can be found here.
Here’s some simple tips on how we can all be a bit safer while using apps and social media:
- Turn off location settings. Many dating apps and social media sites ask for permission to access our location. It’s easy to turn this off via phone settings or by simply saying ‘no’ when the question pops up.
- Use a variety of strong, complex passwords. When creating a password for an account, try not to link it to any personal information, which will help minimise the risk of someone guessing it.
- Report any strange or suspicious behaviour via a platform’s reporting function.
- Be mindful of social media contacts and only accept ‘followers’ who are known and trusted.
If you’re a resident and would like to speak to our Community Safety or Tenancy Compliance team, call us on 0300 123 1 567. A member of the team will be in touch with you within 24 hours.
If you’d like to speak to someone else, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. If you’re in immediate danger, please call 999.
