The Media Monster

Social media influences the way men and women interact with one another. Whether it be in a negative or positive way, the amount of influence that social media has on society today is nerve-wracking. While watching the two videos in class about the idea of men over-powering women, I was hoping they would include some type of research about teenage domestic violence. I believe that more domesetic violence occurs between teenagers because of the "social media" world we live in today. Textual harassment and electronic bullying are just a small glimpse at the issues teens have to confront in the age of social media, dating and relationship building.

            The fact that teens can have constant communication with each other because of the internet and cellphones can be a negative and positive.While technology has helped teenagers  stay in touch with their family and friends, it has also presented a obstacle to service providers who work with teens experiencing dating violence. Because it is so easy to contact someone through these devices, the abuser is able to use these tools against their victim.  While teens experience the same types of abuse as adults, the methods on how they abuse their victims is different.  The controlling behavior, or "monitoring", that abusers use against their partners checking their cellphones, stalking Facebook or making their partner check in with them.  Between texting and constant phone calls, the abuser can have total control over their victim through the day and night.

         One recent story that was in the news was about a ex-boyfriend, Nathaniel Fujita, that murdered his then girlfriend, Lauren Astley. The two high school graduates were dating for three years before Lauren Astley  broke off the relationship - which triggered the attack by Fujita. Fujita had been constantly harrassing Astley through phone calls, texts and Facebook messaging until she finally decided to meet up with him.  Because Fujita swarmed her with massive message, Astley believed that by meeting up with him, the harassment would stop - and it...with her life. Today, I personally believe that social media makes it easier for teenagers to have easy access to domestic violence.