Dating/Intimate Partner Violence and Social Media Use Among College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how college students perceive dating/intimate partner violence (D/IPV) on social media. In spite of the meteoric proliferation of social media, the perception of dating and intimate partner violence on social media is still an under-researched topic. We designed an instrument to assess the perception of college students regarding D/IPV on social media. The survey included questions about social media use, perceptions about hypothetical posts related to D/IPV, and demographic characteristics. The hypothetical posts were informed by the modified “Power and Control Wheel” with regard to social media, which classifies abuse into 10 categories. During the Fall of 2020, 441 college students participated in the online survey. The findings suggest that college students may identify D/IPV on social media in specific situations but may not recognize D/IPV on social media if they are asked about it in general. The survey participants believe that they are more likely than their peers to view D/IPV on social media as unacceptable behavior. Furthermore, college students perceive their peers may believe that some of the D/IPV situations on social media are acceptable. Our findings suggest that D/IPV prevention and intervention programs for college students should use specific scenarios, so that college students can better understand and identify indicators of D/IPV on social media.