ABSTRACT

Advancements in technology and the growing capacity of the Internet have created multiple cyberspaces and digital communication methods which have opened up new ways for social and interpersonal relationships to develop. While there are clear advantages associated with these technological advancements, associated risks include the availability of new methods and opportunities for domestic violence and abuse to occur. Consideration will be given to the nature, prevalence, and impact of technology-related abuse within intimate relationships, and the challenges and opportunities that this can present for social work practice. This chapter draws on relatively recent yet extensive literature and research, providing an informed understanding of the emerging role that technology plays in domestic violence and abuse, and concluding from this summation, with the implications for policy, social work practice, and future research.