DATING APP USERS EXPERIENCE SHOCKING RATE OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Tue 04 October 2022:

According to a recent study, more than 75% of people who use dating apps have experienced sexual violence in the last five years.

Following a survey by the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), which revealed that three out of four users of dating apps experienced sexual violence after using these apps, the statistics were made public on Monday. 9,987 app users were surveyed by the institute.

Ground-breaking new research released today shows 3/4 of survey respondents had been subjected to sexual violence facilitated via online dating apps in the last 5 years. Read the full report: https://t.co/e4ZAHF5dHh pic.twitter.com/bJe6sSYDev

— AIC (@AICriminology) October 3, 2022

Sexual harassment is one of the most frequently reported types of behavior, with abusive and threatening language followed by unwanted sexual images.

The survey also revealed that when compared to heterosexual participants, LGBTIQ+ men and women experienced sexual violence more frequently.

Among the heterosexual respondents, 79 per cent of women reported some form of online violence, compared with 61 per cent of men.

At least one-third of users faced physical abuse from someone they met on an app, with 27 per cent of those reporting incidents of sexual assault or coercion, such as drink spiking, the researchers noted.

The report pointed out that a “significant proportion” of app users were exposed to online and physical sexual violence.

“This is highly concerning given the significant and potentially long-term impacts associated with these victimisation experiences,” the study said, reports AP news agency.

“These impacts include poorer health and wellbeing, including overall life satisfaction, social isolation and lower self-esteem, as well as increased risk of re-victimisation.”

According to the study, dating apps should prioritize streamlined reporting procedures, stricter ID verification to bar offenders, and the censorship of explicit images over urgent improvements in user experience and safety.

According to the study, “Considering the long- and short-term implications for victim-survivors after experiencing these harmful behaviours, there is an obvious need to develop mechanisms for protecting users.”

While some dating apps, such as Bumble have launched initiatives to provide support to users who have been through app-related sexual assault and abuse, the figures do suggest that more needs to be done to ensure that people are safe when they interact with people online.