The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence Utilizes Digital Tools to Reach Teens During Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
CONTACT: Cristina Williams at RICADV: (401) 467-9940; Cell: (917) 940-3729
Local organization partners with statewide advocacy and prevention groups and receives national support for innovative mediums to reach youth
[Providence, R.I.] The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) continued its innovative approach to reaching teens Friday during the #NOMORERI Tweet Chat, "How Jealous is Too Jealous?" The second online conversation, held on Twitter and Facebook, was designed to reach youth where they spend a majority of their free time—online, particularly using social networking outlets.
"We know that violent behavior is often learned at an early age [between the ages of 12-18], even before it begins to appear in dating relationships. We also know that teens and young adults utilize technology and media devices to engage with one another, but one consequence of that regular use is that digital abuse is rampant among them. For these reasons, technology can be an excellent tool in reaching them," said Deborah DeBare, executive director of the RICADV, "and we are dedicated to ending dating violence and teaching them about healthy relationships."
A 2009 study by eMarketer estimated that 72 percent of teens rated themselves a light, average or heavy user of social networking outlets. More than 90 percent of teens go online and, more and more of them are flocking to websites such as Twitter.
Read more: The RICADV Utilizes Digital Tools to Reach Teens During TDVAPM
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