Podcast on Crimes Against Women

Teens, Tech, And Trust: Teen Dating Violence in the Digital Age

• Conference on Crimes Against Women

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What happens when the place teens go to connect becomes a channel for control? We dig into the real dynamics of tech-facilitated dating violence—how it starts, how it spreads across platforms, and how teens, parents, and advocates can disrupt it without demonizing the tools young people love.

Joined by Audace Garnett, director of SafetyNet at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, we unpack the core idea that technology isn’t the problem—abuse is. Audace brings two decades of survivor-centered expertise to explain how common features like DMs, location sharing, and shared passwords turn into leverage for power and control. We explore the rise of AI-generated intimate images, the emerging “Take It Down” efforts to remove harmful content, and why evidence preservation matters before blocking. You’ll hear the warning signs of grooming, the subtle shift from “care” to surveillance, and how social media culture often normalizes stalking and boundary violations as jokes or romance.

We also shine a light on the disproportionate impact on Black teen girls and the broader social and historical forces that drive those disparities. Rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all rules, we share realistic, teen-driven safety planning: privacy checkups, strong passwords and two-factor authentication, location limits, code words, trusted adult networks, and the simple “two-beat pause” before posting or replying. For parents, teachers, and coaches, we offer ways to turn doomscrolling into dialogue—using the very videos teens watch to spot red flags and rebuild media literacy and trust.

If you care about a teen in your life—or you’re a teen navigating digital relationships—this conversation brings clarity, language, and next steps you can use today. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find practical tools for safer, healthier online relationships.

Content Warnings And Scope

SPEAKER_01

The subject matter of this podcast will address difficult topics, multiple forms of violence, and identity-based discrimination and harassment. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and have listed specific content warnings in each episode description to help create a positive, safe experience for all listeners.

SPEAKER_00

In this country, 31 million crimes. 31 million crimes are reported every year. That is one every second. Out of that, every 24 minutes, there is a murder. Every five minutes, there is a rape, every two to five minutes, there is a sexual assault. Every nine seconds in this country, a woman is assaulted by someone who told her that he loved her, by someone who told her it was her fault, by someone who tries to tell the rest of us it's none of our business. And I am proud to stand here today with each of you to call that perpetrator a liar.

Guest Introduction And SafetyNet’s Work

SPEAKER_01

Today we explore how the digital world is reshaping the everyday lives and relationships of teens. From social media feeds and messaging apps to immersive gaming platforms and rapidly evolving tools like artificial intelligence, technology now plays a central role in how young people connect, communicate, and express themselves. But with these new digital spaces come new dynamics. As February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we've invited Audede Scarnett of the National Network to End Domestic Violence to help us understand how online environments influence communication, attraction, and boundaries, and how emerging technologies can introduce both opportunities and unique risks for harm, especially for teenagers. Most importantly, we'll share practical and actionable strategies to help teens navigate these spaces safely and confidently. We'll talk about how young people can set and respect boundaries, engage responsibly online, and build relationships that are safe, respectful, and empowering, both on and offline. We'll also draw attention to the increased risk of dating violence to black teen girls. Audaise Garnett is the director of SafetyNet at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, where she leads national work at the intersection of technology safety and survivor-centered advocacy. With more than 20 years of experience, Ms. Garnett supports advocates and organizations in addressing technology-facilitated abuse, safety planning, confidentiality, and privacy. Ms. Garnett's background includes direct advocacy with survivors with disabilities, youth-focused work at the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, and national training on teen dating violence and technology misuse. The National Network to End Domestic Violence SafetyNet Project focuses on the intersection of technology and domestic and sexual violence and works to address how it impacts safety, privacy, accessibility, and civil rights of victims. The Safety Net Project provides engaging interactive trainings and webinars to enhance the ability of local programs, community agencies, and other groups to respond to the technology and privacy-related needs of survivors. Founded in 2002, the project has trained more than 96,000 advocates, law enforcement officers, legal services providers, prosecutors, and other community agency members across the United States and around the world.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you so much for having me, Maria.

Positives Of Tech And Core Principle

SPEAKER_01

It's good to be with you, and we always enjoy talking with members of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. It's a good partner of the Conference on Crimes Against Women as well as Genesis Women's Shelter and Support in Dallas, Texas. And February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. And for the benefit of our listeners, I want to preface our discussion with some facts about teen dating violence. The CDC website, CDC.gov, indicates that about one in twelve teens experience physical dating violence, while about one in ten teens experience sexual dating violence. The CDC continues by indicating, quote, some teens are at greater risk than others. Female students experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than male students. Students identifying as LGBTQ or those who were unsure of their gender identity experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than heterosexual students. Further, it goes on to say, quote, dating violence can take place in person, online, or through technology, which we will discuss in detail today. And dating violence can also include physical aggression and stalking. There's a lot more information on the cdc.gov website as well as on Genesis Women's Shelter and Support website, Genesis Shelter.org. February is also Black History Month. And if history teaches us anything, it is that black women have a significantly higher risk of intimate partner violence as well as an increased risk of lethality from such violence. And we are going to lean into those facts as well today in our conversation because technology has compounded the issue of abuse and violence across this demographic as well as connected more teens across the world than ever before. And very often when we hear the word technology, we think of teens and maybe even dating, because so many teens have online or digital relationships, and terms like teens and tech and dating can be very intertwined. So, what are the positives within this seemingly interdependent relationship? And how can those positives sometimes turn negative or even violent?

How Abusers Weaponize Technology

SPEAKER_02

Great question, Maria. So young people today are growing up fully immersed in technology. This generation has never known a time without screens. And so because we're living in a tech-saturated world and technology is woven into almost every part of all our daily lives, young people, as they're growing and they're developing, their digital worlds are evolving too. They use technology in many positive ways. They use it to watch movies, to play online games, to learn new hobbies. They're using technology to socialize and to stay connected with friends through social media, texting, video calls. They're also using it to shop, to raise awareness about issues that they care about. They're doing research, they're coding, they're practicing trending dances, and so much more. And before we speak about the negatives, I think that it's important for us to ground this conversation on one of SafetyNet's foundational principles. Technology is not the problem. The abuse is. Because with or without the technology, the abuse will still exist. Technology is just one of many tools that can be misused by an abusive person to maintain power and control. And teen dating violence is not a new phenomenon. What's new are the tools being used to cause harm. And when positives become negatives, they often look similar to what we see in abusive adult relationships, where power and control are the core dynamics rather than the technology itself. And so an abusive partner may demand passwords to accounts, such as social media accounts, their email, or their device under the guise of trust. They may pressure the survivor to share their location at all times, to closely monitor them and to check in on who they're texting or who they're messaging or who they're following online. Abusers can use technology also to isolate survivors by blocking their contacts, deleting messages, or creating online conflict that cuts them off from their family or friends. Sometimes they constantly call the survivor, constantly message them, sending them threats. And today, an emerging issue that we see is abusers using AI-generated images to share nude images of survivors. We call that the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. And this can cause a lot of irreparable harm to both youth and adults.

Policy Spotlight: Take It Down Act

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, those are some very powerful examples of how techno technology can be weaponized. And I appreciate you bringing up especially that last point about the non-consensual use of images because there was some recent legislation around there, around that. Was there not?

SPEAKER_02

Yes, there is. The Take It Down Act, which we hope will be coming out in May, we will have some guidance on how this will work and how tech companies will be held more accountable in order to get the survivors that they need in order to have these images taken down from their platforms.

Why Teens Are Vulnerable

SPEAKER_01

I'm definitely, yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to that. Now, the term teen dating violence may be challenging for some because the idea of youth and young adults being vulnerable and victimized, especially by their own peers, is very scary, especially for parents. Can you share with us why and how teens are susceptible to abuse by their dating partners and then maybe talk about how that differs when it's abused by strangers.

Stranger Grooming And Online Risks

SPEAKER_02

Sure. So when we talk about susceptibilities, it's important to be clear that this is not justifying the abuse that a young person may be experiencing. It's important that we understand and are better able to identify these factors because it helps increase awareness so those of us who are trusted adults supporting youth can recognize the harm earlier, respond in ways that truly support youth, while keeping responsibility squarely on the person that's causing the abuse. In teen dating violence relationships, harm often grows out of closeness and trust. This is the person that the young person is connected to. They're building a relationship. And a partner may slowly introduce controlling behaviors like jealousy, constantly checking in on that person, constantly texting them, or pressuring the survivor to share passwords or monitoring their device while framing it as care, concern, or commitment. Because these behaviors often start out subtle sub subtly, young people may not recognize the harm right away. They may normalize or excuse the behavior, especially if they're afraid, feel isolated, or don't have trusted adults they can turn to for guidance and support. Over time, this can make it harder for them to identify unhealthy patterns. It can make it harder for them to speak up or set boundaries, allowing controlling or abusive behaviors to continue to go on unchecked. Abuse by strangers often looks different and may involve manipulation, deception, or grooming. Strangers can use technology to present themselves as someone that they're not, to build trust quickly with that young person, or to exploit a young person's curiosity, their loneliness, and any underlying vulnerabilities or need for validation. For young people, online spaces blur the line between public and private, making it easier for strangers to access their personally identifying information, whether it was shared intentionally or not. These spaces also allow for strangers to push boundaries or to escalate interactions without immediate consequences. And because these tactics can happen quickly and may seem harmless at first, recognizing the warning signs early is critical. And understanding these patterns helps young people respond effectively by setting boundaries, reaching out to a trusted adult, and increasing their safety both online and offline. And when it comes to technology, it can make controlling, monitoring, and harassing behaviors not just faster and louder, but far-reaching and relentless. The technology can amplify the abuse in ways that were impossible before, but it's critical to remember that the technology itself is just a tool. The problem is always the abusive behavior.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. I mean it's the onus is on the predator, right?

Underreporting, Shame, And Isolation

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01

They are weaponizing this technology, as we said before. And I think one of the major concerns around all of this abuse and violence through the use of technology is that often young people will not share it due to shame or fear. And so parents often don't understand what you mentioned, the warning signs of technology abuse or teen dating violence. And so then kids are left kind of feeling lonely and terrified.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. Yes. That is so true.

Higher Risks For Black Teen Girls

SPEAKER_01

So let's go back to the statistics for a moment. Because adult black women experience higher incidence of abuse and violence than their other counterparts, right? Is this true for black teenage girls as well within intimate partner violence relationships?

Research And Community Resources

SPEAKER_02

Yes, it is. When we look at the data for adults, research consistently shows that black women experience higher rates of intimate partner violence compared to women from other groups. Evidence also suggests similar patterns for black teenage girls. They tend to experience higher rates of teen dating violence than their peers. And these disparities don't happen by accident. They reflect broader social, economic, and historical factors that get overlooked and unaddressed. And when it comes to technology, I'm not aware that there's any strong evidence that a particular type of device or platform is being used to cause this harm against one demographic versus another. Instead, offenders across all groups use the technologies that are most common and accessible to the young people that they're targeting, whether that's through texting, social media apps, location tracking, shared photos, messaging platforms, and so on. What can differ is how patterns of use, access to devices, and online norms may vary in communities, which can influence the ways technology is misused. Back to some of the statistics that you shared. Violence against black women and girls is preventable. What we need is a zero tolerance culture around this issue. And for a closer look at what this looks like, I recommend that the audience checks out a lot of research that is out there already. There's a website called blackgirltragic.com. There is an activist and a nurse who actively on the daily collects information about black femicide. Her name is Rosalind Page. She is Black Femicide on Facebook and she collects this data every single day. There's also a YouTuber. Her name is Dr. Leah Gordon. She captures many of these cases that go unsolved and unheard in our news media. So I'm really glad that you all are highlighting this because it's a huge concern how this is impacting black women and girls in communities.

Social Media’s Role In Normalizing Abuse

SPEAKER_01

Thank you for sharing those resources. That is information I am definitely going to check out and see if we can post in the notes to this episode. Let's talk specifically about social media for a moment. Because social media in particular has a massive influence over teenagers. Do you believe that the abuse that teenagers experience online is normalized through social media?

Naming Stalking And Legal Realities

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. So just like I shared earlier, teen dating violence isn't new. Violence being shown through media isn't new either. What is new is the social media, the tool. And anyone with a phone and a camera can hit the record button and share their thoughts or opinions, whether it's true, false, healthy, unhealthy, and reach millions of people instantly. I see influencers and creators on my timeline all the time, making videos about stalking, saying things like, She didn't answer your call, so just show up, right? Or she broke up with you, so now apply to her job or show up wherever you know she's gonna be next. And this can be confusing and misleading to young people. Some might think that it's funny or think it's relatable, but that's stalking and that's ignoring someone's boundaries. It's abuse. And when teens see these behaviors constantly and don't have a clear idea of what healthy relationships look like or what red flags are, it's hard for them to notice when something feels wrong or to trust their instincts enough to ask for help. Seeing controlling or harmful behavior framed as normal, romantic, or funny blurs the line, right? It blurs the line between healthy and unhealthy relationships because all of those likes, those shares, those comments that they're seeing, where people are chuckling and laughing about that video, it's difficult to process whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. And peer approval makes it feel that it's acceptable. And when teens see friends or influencers modeling it, unhealthy behavior can start to feel expected. And over time, this distorts the boundaries, it masks the harm, and it makes it even harder for teens to recognize abuse or reach out for help when something doesn't feel right. So, as advocates, we have to get creative in how we reach youth. We need to counteract the normalization of abuse by talking with teens about what they're seeing on their timelines, asking questions, having honest conversations and helping them reflect on what's healthy and what's not. Sometimes that even means using the very same videos with that unhealthy content to point out those red flags, showing what control, jealousy, or harassment really looks like. It's not enough to just tell them don't do this. We have to meet them where they are and use the tools and the information that they're processing that as well. And I can go on and on about this, but I really think that it's important that we counteract this culture that we're seeing. This normalization of violence, stalking, and harassment is not okay.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. I'd be happy for you to go on and on, right? Because we I know you have so much experience in this and so much information to share. And I just want to point out maybe this is the obvious for everyone, but stalking is a crime. It is illegal and it is something that is prosecutable.

Breaking The Illusion Of “Protective” Abuse

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_01

So, do you have any other ideas that could help to break the illusion of abuse when it's perceived as safety?

Doomscrolling And Media Literacy With Teens

SPEAKER_02

I think that parents, caregivers, those adults who are in young people's lives need to, you know, have conversations with young people. They are processing a lot of this content and information on their own and may not know who to connect with or talk to about these situations. I think that those who are in that young person's life, in community, whether it's in schools or you know, in other spaces that young people are in, whether it's a coach or anyone that you know is familiar with that young person needs to start asking questions. What are you consuming? What are you seeing? What are you watching? What are you looking at? What's so funny? Like what are you engaging with on your downtime? Because young people are doing something. Um, well, it's a new term, and it's not just young people that are doing this. It's something called doom scrolling where they're just scrolling through a lot of content and they're not even taking the chance to process what they're seeing. And so that could be a really great opportunity for an adult to just connect with them and ask, what are you seeing? What are you watching? What does that mean to you? Whether it's music or media, what does that song mean to you? What do those lyrics mean? Let's process that, let's break that down. I think young people would be really grateful if people asked these questions because there's a lot that they have in their head that they are just trying to figure out and process as they grow and develop.

Access, Misuse, And Teen Brain Development

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. And it's not intrusive to have those conversations with your teenagers or your children, your students, or even players on uh athletes on a team. It's supportive, and to your point, in the long run, kids will be grateful and will be able to maybe develop healthier lifestyles, healthier relationships because adults took an interest in their well-being in that particular way. Now it's really clear that technology is here to stay, right? And it's only become more and more integrated into our daily lives minute by minute. AI is here and it is helping us to do a lot. Teenagers rely heavily on technology and digital devices for their schoolwork is just one example. So would you say that it is easy for teens to misuse the technology because they have so much access to it?

SPEAKER_02

Yes. Being familiar with technology may make it easier for an abuser to misuse it. However, uh tech abuse doesn't require the abuser to be tech savvy. Abusers can use everyday tools such as texting, social media, or apps to control, harass, monitor, or intimidate. And being tech savvy might allow an abusive person to do more technologically advanced harm, but in general, the skill is not required. And so when teens misuse technology, it can look a lot like how adults misuse tech. The constant texting, the constant messaging threats, checking accounts, spreading rumors, or publicly shaming someone, these behaviors can appear exactly the same. What's different is why and how teens do it. So their brains are still developing, especially the prefrontal cortex that governs the planning, the impulse control, and the decision making. This means that teens may act impulsively, may escalate situations quickly, or Misjudge the risks of their actions. And in peer pressure, there's the imaginary audience, and the personal fable and online attention can feel overwhelming or they may feel invincible or untouchable within those spaces. So while the behaviors may look similar to adult abusive relationships, teens' developmental stage often drives more impulsive, experimental, and peer-influenced misuse.

Safety Planning That Teens Will Use

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. I really value that you brought up the state of development for teenagers, right? So that period of time that they are not fully grown adults, they have very little life experience to draw from, and they may not understand, they may see attention from either another peer or from a stranger as very exciting when in fact it could be very dangerous and lead them to risky behavior that they may not realize is risky and they may not even have ever thought or contemplated about engaging in a risky behavior that might have dangerous outcomes, right? Yes. So you are the director of SafetyNet, a project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and one of your primary responsibilities is to help facilitate safety planning. And listeners of this podcast and the pot and Genesis, the podcast, are very familiar to hearing me talk about safety planning. We do it all day long at Genesis, and it is primary to keeping survivors safe and helping them transform their lives on the other side of an abusive relationship. Do you perceive teenagers as being open to safety planning or do they tend to reject that? And if they do embrace it, how deeply do they tend to participate in that process?

Practical Support For Tech-Facilitated Abuse

SPEAKER_02

Good question. Teens are often more open to safety planning when the risks feel manageable and the plan feels realistic, and when they are treated as partners in the process along with the advocate. And that may mean, and what that means is working alongside them, helping them create a plan that makes sense for their life. When teens have this level of collaboration and respect, they are more likely to stay engaged and take ownership of their safety plan. A national study from the National Institute of Justice on Teens and Civil Orders of Protections found that teens were far more likely to leave an abusive relationship when supported by a trusted adult. And from my experience as an advocate, I've seen young people fully participate, connect with services, and remain engaged in services when they know we are honest, consistent, and genuinely care. Most importantly, when teens actively co-create their own safety plans, they gain agency and confidence that's essential tools for living a life free from abuse. And so it's very important that they are a part of the entire process because they know their situations better than anyone else. And so it's important that they are leading the process the entire way.

SPEAKER_01

That's an excellent point. And as a parent, I can definitely say that if I invite one of my teenagers to participate in a conversation that may be difficult or challenging, it's always better to try to partner and include their ideas and as you say, give them a sense of agency over the whole question and the whole process, as opposed to demanding or telling them what they're going to do or how it's going to be. Now there are times when that's necessary, right?

SPEAKER_02

Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01

There are, and as a parent or an educator or a trusted adult in a young person's life, you have to draw on your own life experience and what you know about how the world works to say this is a time when I can work it on this as a partnership, or this is a time when I absolutely must say this is the best course of action that and we are going to take it, right? So it's a balance. And if you really do care about a young person in your life, whether they're your child, a relative, a friend, and so on, it's important to take the time to understand how they would, you know, really what they would respond to and what would be the most meaningful approach in them. So I appreciate you bringing up how that could work, a couple different options on how that could be approached. Let's talk about some tips that trusted adults can share with young people if they are experiencing technology abuse.

Boundaries, Privacy, And Evidence Collection

SPEAKER_02

Yes, so I just want to start out by saying that there is this inherent level of distrust, right, that exists. Young people are fearful of the consequences that may come out of them sharing that they're in a negative situation. So it's important that we remember that, right? Add to this an extra layer: people who are authority figures, people who wear uniform, or people who are in positions that they can make decisions about their life and their future. And that is almost every adult, right? And so it's important that we keep that in mind. And when it comes to supporting teens, it's important that we build trust and rapport. Trust and rapport are so important when working with young people. So first responders, advocates, service providers, parents can start by meeting young people where they are. That means listening without judgment, believing what they share, listening to what they're saying, and respecting their autonomy, even when their choices don't look like the way that we might expect. Instead of giving them ultimatums, the focus should be on sharing clear, plain language information, planting seeds and walking through options. They can be informed about decisions that feel realistic for their lives. I mean, I know that young people have access to tools such as search engines where they can type in a question and receive an answer, but that can all feel overwhelming. So it's important that we come to them with facts and information that can guide them and support them, things that are realistic to guide them throughout their situation. And safety planning needs to reflect their actual day-to-day, their school, their friends, their family dynamics. What about transportation? How do they use technology? It's important that we consider all of that. And when we safety plan, it has to be individualized, survivor-driven, and focus on what the needs of that young person is. So it's really important that we keep that in mind. We have many resources on our website, techsafety.org. We have a teens and tech toolkit where a lot of this information lives. And you can always reach out to our team, safety net at nnedv.org, where we could provide you with technical assistance, support, and any information that you need as you're working with young people impacted by tech-facilitated abuse.

Always-On Lives And Ongoing Support

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, those are great resources and great examples that you pointed out. And everything that you have kind of teed up for us to consider on this topic, to me, speaks to an idea of empowerment, empowering teenagers to harness technology in positive ways, empowering them to approach difficult situations, even dangerous situations with someone, with an adult who they trust. And it's important too for teens to understand how first responders and service providers can actually support them and can be on their side in these difficult and challenging abusive situations. Can you speak to a little bit how first responders and service providers actually can support and help kids make informed choices when they're experiencing dating violence?

Pause Before You Post

Key Resources And How To Reach Help

SPEAKER_02

Sure, yes. So trusted adults can remind young people that if something happening online feels uncomfortable, scary, or controlling, it's important to trust that feeling. They don't have to respond to messages right away or engage at all, especially if someone is pressuring them. A lot of these social media platforms, a lot of these apps and these devices have tools built in them that can be used to ensure that a young person's privacy and safety are respected. So it's important that a young person is taking a pause, letting them know that it's okay to take a pause, to step away from that device, to step away from that platform. And no one is owed constant access to their time, their attention, their phone, their inbox. It's important that they understand that boundaries can be set, right? Digital boundaries are a real thing. And adults can also talk to young people about privacy and account safety. This includes using strong passwords, not sharing your passwords with anyone, including someone that they're dating and regularly hanging out with, making sure that young people know how to review, who's seeing their posts or their stories or their location and how they can turn that off and on. Doing a digital safety check with them, right? A checkup with them. What apps do you have on your phone? What accounts are you using? Let's talk about those things. Who has access to those things? And then doing a safety plan from there. If a young person is experiencing harassment threats or digital violence online, trusted adults can also encourage them to save evidence such as screenshots or messages, uh the username, the dates and times that these incidents were happening. There are tools such as blocking and muting, but it's important that we remember that before that young person blocks or mutes that person, that they should preserve any evidence that they may want to use in the future in case a criminal case is pursued in the future or a family court case is pursued in the future. Adults should also emphasize that these steps are about increasing safety and options, but not about forcing a specific response. And it's also important for adults to name that pressure to share passwords, location, photos, because this is something that's so common with young people. They're sharing their location because these apps have these tools built into them. And so it's like, okay, well, it's built in, so I might as well use it. They don't have to use every feature that's within an app. So it's important that we continue to check in with them and just think about all that they're experiencing. They're growing up in a time like never before. They're connected every day throughout their school day when they get home. And prior to technology emerging into what it is today, what happened at school stayed at school, or what happened outdoors or on the playground stayed in those spaces. Now, those situations are following young people home into their bedroom. And so it's important that we're having these conversations beyond February because this is something that's ongoing. They are impacted by this issue more than any other age group. And so I really appreciate you highlighting this. Again, resources are on our website, and we can be reached to provide any support that is needed as young people are navigating the situations.

Closing Thoughts And Events

SPEAKER_01

That is so critical to the future of humanity, really, because these kids are the future of our world. And I I just want to add one more idea to all of the important information that you shared. The world is moving faster than ever. And teens really are not fully equipped, as you pointed out, to make decisions that quickly, even with the use of technology. I'm not sure that I'm even fully equipped sometimes to move that fast and make all these decisions, right? And I just offer a tiny piece of advice. Give things a beat or two before you respond, before you hit send, before you you know, post that post or photo or information and think about what the outcome might be, right? And that's probably good advice for all of us. Remind us of your website one more time.

SPEAKER_02

Yes, our website is techsafety.org. We are the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and we provide technical assistance and training around many of these topics. You can find a lot of information and resources on our website if you need support. You can always reach out to us at safety net at nnedv.org.

SPEAKER_01

Perfect. You can also learn more about teen dating violence at the Genesis Women's Shelter and Support website, GenesisShelter.org, or at the conference on crimes against women, coming up in May 2026. I hope I see you there, and I thank you, Audis, for your work in this area and for talking with me today.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you so much. I want to leave with one last thing. It is Black History Month, and there's a quote that I use constantly throughout the year. It's from Frederick Douglass, and it says, It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. And by supporting teens now, we give them the tools and the confidence to thrive and to, you know, stay safe in the long run. So thank you for having me. I really appreciate this opportunity. And I'll be at CCAW in May as well.

SPEAKER_01

I look forward to meeting you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

Thanks so much for listening. Until next time, stay safe. The 21st Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women will be held May 18th through the 21st, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. Learn more at conferencecaw.org and be the first to know about all conference details, as well as the latest on the Institute for Coordinated Community Response, Annual Conference Summit, Beyond the Bounds, and the National Training Center on Crimes Against Women. When you follow us on social media at NationalCCAWCCCCCC.