Whether you just want to escape from the routine, want to meet new people or find your soulmate, dating apps are now quite a popular tool, especially among young people.
However, the positive aspects of apps of dating have been overshadowed by a new study which reveals that they are plagued by sexual violence.
The research was based on a survey of data from the Australian Institute of Criminology, which showed that nearly three in four dating app users have experienced tech-facilitated sexual abuse.
The survey of around 10,000 Australians found that almost a third of app users (27 per cent) reported experiencing in-person sexual violence from a person they met online, including incidents of sexual assault or coercion, such as alcoholic drinks.
Furthermore, the abuse was not isolated, as users said they experienced sexual violence online and in person multiple times from different perpetrators.
Given the findings, the institute’s researchers said the fact that a significant proportion of the apps’ users were exposed to online and physical sexual violence was “very concerning,” considering the potential long-term consequences.
These impacts include poorer health and well-being, including overall life satisfaction, social isolation, and lower self-esteem, as well as an increased risk of re-victimization.
For their part, sexual violence experts said dating apps need to better protect their users, while Australia’s e-safety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, called the study’s findings a “wake-up call.” Additionally, she stated that more work was needed to reduce rates of online abuse.
But that’s not all, as it also recommended that dating app users take steps not to share too much personal information and use photos on dating app profiles. apps that were different from those of social networks.
When you’re meeting someone online, it can be easy to forget that the person you’re talking to may not be who they seem. It is very important to take steps to protect yourself and be careful not to take anything they say at face value.
Finally, the study authors urged dating apps to prioritize safety through easier reporting processes, stricter ID verification to ban perpetrators, as well as censorship of explicit images.
A spokeswoman for dating app Bumble said the company was “saddened” by the findings. However, she added that the types of online violence cited in the study were grounds for users to report perpetrators on her app.
For his part, the spokesman for Match Group, owner of Tinder and Hinge, said that any kind of violence or abuse in relationships “has no place on our platform or anywhere else.”
We continue to work with experts from leading GBV and sexual assault organizations to help train our customer service teams so they can handle any serious report with a survivor-centered approach.
Source: Okchicas
I’m Ava Paul, an experienced news website author with a special focus on the entertainment section. Over the past five years, I have worked in various positions of media and communication at World Stock Market. My experience has given me extensive knowledge in writing, editing, researching and reporting on stories related to the entertainment industry.
