Liz Claiborne Inc.’s Love Is Not Abuse (LINA) application provides a rare insight for parents of what it feels like for their teen to be a victim of digital dating abuse. Teen dating abuse comes in many forms, making it difficult for parents to recognize. Dating abuse does not always leaves scratches or bruises, so parents need also to be aware of subtle signs that their teen may be under attack through technology, including cell phones, online and social networking.
This application simulates for parents the abuse that many teens endure in their dating relationships. For just a few minutes, application users will receive text messages, emails and phone calls from a ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’ that mimic the actual communications abused teens receive - in many cases, all day and night. Videos on such topics as privacy invasion, deleting a partner’s friends on social networks and unauthorized access to a boyfriend or girlfriend’s social networks teach parents about the destructive behaviors in digitally abusive relationships.
Users are also provided with resources to get help and can access the Love is Not Abuse curriculum, designed to teach teens about abusive relationships.