Www.ThatsNotCool.com provides interactive, web-based tools and resources to prevent teen dating violence by promoting positive friendships and relationships, raising awareness about the signs of abuse, and most importantly, educating teens about “digital gray areas.” It asks teens, “Where Do You Draw Your Digital Line?” to define what is acceptable behavior and what is not. The website is inventive and wonderfully designed with video, teen-friendly graphics, and examples of some of the behaviors to be wary of as described by actual teens in online chat rooms. The content includes some helpful information about what kinds of behavior to watch for and what to do about it if it happens to you.
The site is actually a web-based PSA campaign that is tailored to teen interaction and communication with peers. The content was developed with information learned from focus groups and additional research on digital dating abuse through social networking sites and mobile communication. As noted by the U.S. Dept. of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Acting Director Catherine Pierce, “Technology is at the center of most teenagers’ lives, regardless of class, sex, or race, and can be a tool to abuse and control.”
The website is a project of the Family Violence Prevention Fund in partnership with OVW, the AD Council, and R/GA to help teens recognize digital dating abuse and its prevention. The site was officially announced last week in conjunction with Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. This aspect of violence in relationships is certainly something we all need to be more aware of. The Center for Disease Control's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed approximately 10% of adolescents nationwide reported being the victim of physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner during the previous year.
Using tools like this website, we can enhance teens’ understanding of healthy relationships, help them recognize signs of abuse, and help them locate services if they or someone they know is experiencing a physically or emotionally abusive relationship. Any teen who wants more information or help is encouraged to call The Wellspring’s 24/7 help line at (318) 323-1505 or 1-800-716-7233 or visit any Wellspring office (locations are listed in your local phone book or listed online at www.wellspringalliance.org) or visit the Family Justice Center at 620 Riverside Drive, Monroe.
Please take time to visit www.ThatsNotCool.com. It may open your eyes to things area kids see every day.