- Get Help
- Contact Us
- Help for students
- Help for faculty and staff
- Make a report
- Relationship Violence
- Technology-Facilitated Sexualized Violence
- Resources for respondents
- Self care
- Translated SVSPO Brochures
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Phone and Video Guidelines
- Supporting Survivors
- Education & Prevention
- Request a Workshop
- Safer Campuses for Everyone
- Definitions
- Consent Matters
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- Safe(r) Party Initiative
- National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S
- December 6
- InterroBang
- Active Bystander Intervention
- Active Bystander Network
- Blog
- ACTIVE BYSTANDER
- CONSENT
- Yes, No, Maybe So: The Inner Workings of Consent
- Sextortion
- Yes/No/Maybe Checklist
- Cyberconsent and How to Practice Consent Online
- Curious About Consent?
- The importance of pronouns
- Sexting: tips on staying safe(r)
- A Conversation on Cyberconsent
- Are Tea and Consent Simple?
- Consent Is Not Cancelled
- How We Can Contribute to Consent Culture Every Day
- Yes Means Yassss: Improving Consent Education Among Queer Men
- Isn鈥檛 that kind of鈥nsexy?
- My Ode to You
- Back to School 101: 5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Consent
- Sexual Violence in Intimate Relationships
- Why Consent Matters
- CULTURE, SUPPORT, AND CARE
- InterroBang: A new game to get to know yourself and others
- Content Notes: From Either/Or to Both/And
- The STEM Gender Gap in Focus
- Moving Past COVID
- Top 6 podcasts you should listen to
- Guide to BIPOC Support Services
- Why are Women in STEM Still Unsafe? Commemorating L'脡cole Polytechnique Massacre With Action
- Boundary-Setting In The Age Of COVID
- Tips for survivors who might find wearing a mask challenging: Tips and tricks during COVID-19
- Plain Language Resource Sheets for Survivors & Respondents
- Your First 大象传媒 Policy Summary: GP 44 Policy in Plain Language
- Do You Even Cry, Bro? - Canadian healthy masculinity programs
- From 鈥渂oys will be boys鈥� to 鈥渂oys can be鈥︹��: Some thoughts on masculinity
- Supporting Someone By Listening
- Women Deliver Mobilization: A World and Relationships with Gender-Based Violence
- Self-care Tips for Survivors
- Transformative Justice and Community Accountability: Changing behavior and justice
- Working Towards a Culture of Care and Support Within Your Community
- Dear 大象传媒 faculty: It's on all of us to respond to sexual violence
- Understanding Sexual Violence: A Graduate Student's Perspective
- 大象传媒 Athletics Listen Believe Empower Campaign
- A Conversation with Lorelei Williams about Modern Day Colonialism
- HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
- SAFE(R) PARTYING
- ANONYMOUS DISCLOSURES
- Comic
- Faculty
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Leave Site Now
Technology-Facilitated Sexualized Violence
These days, a lot of people use technology to connect with others鈥攚hether it鈥檚 to chat, make new friends, strengthen community, date, or flirt online. Using these platforms to hurt, embarrass, harass, take advantage of, or threaten someone is never okay, and may constitute an act of sexualized violence.
Tech-facilitated sexualized violence (TFSV) can affect anyone; however, women, Indigenous people, Black people, racialized communities, and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are disproportionately impacted by more broadly, including, but not limited to, TFSV.
The social, physical, psychological, emotional, and academic impacts of TFSV can make people feel isolated, afraid, and silenced.
What is tech-facilitated sexualized violence?
Technology-facilitated sexualized violence (TFSV) is a specific type of sexualized violence that misuses technology to cause virtual and/or in-person harm. This can include, but is not limited to, misusing social media, virtual messaging platforms, webpages, dating apps and digital, phone, or web cameras to threaten, harass, bully, embarrass, assault, extort, coerce, torment, or socially exclude another person.
To learn more about other tech-facilitated sexualized violence (TFSV) terms, please refer to this list created by .
Recognize the signs of TFSV
Tech-facilitated abuse can show up in different ways, especially in online relationships and communication. Here are some red flags to watch for:
- A partner demanding to always know your location or tracking you without your consent
- Threatening to share intimate images without permission
- Constant pressure to reply quickly or give access to your devices or accounts
- Requesting intimate photos even after you鈥檝e expressed that you鈥檙e not comfortable doing so
- Controlling what you post or who you talk to online
- Using fake profiles or impersonating you on social media
If you notice any of these behaviors, or if you have questions about whether what you are experiencing is TFSV, consider reaching out to a trusted support person or one of the support services listed below. It's okay to ask for help or talk to someone you trust.
大象传媒 Supports
Sexual Violence Support & Prevention Office (SVSPO)
Connect with us to chat with one of our Case Managers to receive guidance and support. Our case managers are available Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm (excluding statutory holidays). Appointments may be held outside of these hours, upon request.
Other community supports
大象传媒 IT services has created a page with online safety tips on how to keep our devices updated, use strong passwords with MFA, and watch out for phishing emails.
The Government of British Columbia passed the Intimate Images Protection Act and established the Intimate Images Protection Service in 2023. The Intimate Images Protection Service is a confidential service that supports people in B.C. who have had their intimate images shared without their consent. They have specialists who can take you through each step of how best to respond to threats of your images being released, as well as how to address this in the event an image is released without your consent.
Contact information:
- Office: 236-468-4381
- Toll Free: 1-833-688-4381
- Email: protectyourimages@gov.bc.ca
Compass is an online guide offered by the BC Society of Transition Houses that explains options and support for both threats and release of intimate images. If you鈥檇 like, you can ask a friend or trusted person to go through the tool with you as a support.
A free e-learning course designed by the Canadian Women鈥檚 Foundation for people facing digital harm, organizations, and all people who want to:
- Learn about online hate, harassment and abuse: what are the facts, how do you recognize digital harm, and what can you do about it?
- Build knowledge and skills to engage safely in digital spaces
A funded toolkit providing additional information about tech-facilitated violence laws and resources for victims and survivors of TFSV.
Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected鈥攐nline and offline. If you're ever unsure whether something you're experiencing is TFSV, don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out鈥攚e鈥檙e here to listen and support you.