Study looks at why men abuse women online

A new report released by women's safety experts revealed that 50% of Australian women will be on the receiving end of technology-facilitated abuse in their lifetimes, often from a former partner.

The study, conducted by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, draws from the experience of victims and also delves into why perpetrators use technology in this invasive way.

One person told the researchers it was the sense of control of being able to know where their ex partner was, what they were doing and who they were with.

Another said they felt they needed to retain hold of their former life.

According to the report, perpetrators primarily identified feeling angry and upset as their main motivators for engaging in technology-facilitated abuse in the context of intimate partner relationships.

They attributed this anger to a loss of control at the end of a relationship and losing daily contact with the victim and survivor.

Almost one in three abusers said they thought the victim would “be ok with it.” One in six thought their behaviour was “funny” and one in 10 thought their victim would be “flattered”.

ANROWS chief executive Padma Raman said the impacts of technology-facilitated abuse could include physical, emotional and mental health harms as well as feelings of fear, paranoia, hyper-vigilance and a sense of isolation.

- CyberBeat