This study examines news coverage of the Steubenville, Audrie Pott and Daisy Coleman cases, three highly publicized instances of sexual assault featuring teens and the use of digital media to capture and distribute the incidents. Thematic analysis of 146 articles on the assaults was conducted to identify mainstream media portrayals of emerging technologies in relation to each sex crime, and the problem of sexual assault and rape culture, more broadly. Prevailing news themes in the reporting include technology as a model witness, evidence-gatherer and mobilizer, and threat. The focus on technology in these stories, I argue, detracts from considerations of the underlying sexual violence and its causes, and contributes to the media reframing the incidents as cautionary tales about youth and social media. My analysis also suggests the discourses about digital media in the coverage reinforce existing deterministic understandings of new media platforms, and reproduce risk and responsibilization narratives pertaining to youth, sexuality and technology.
Social media and digital platforms are being used to disclose sexual and dating violence experiences and to unite victims/survivors in social, educational, and advocacy efforts. While digital disclosure can be empowering, there are reasons why some individuals do not disclose. This article focuses on the nuances underlying decisions to (and not to) disclose victimization experiences online, and also presents a call to action, particularly for researchers and practitioners working on sexual violence intervention and prevention. Through a comparative, international literature review, the authors highlight research on factors affecting disclosure decisions while also considering contemporary issues that may impact these decisions. They conclude that, in responding to victims’ and survivors’ “justice” needs (e.g., physical and emotional safety, conscious choice, and empowerment), an intersectional feminist lens is essential in today’s complex digital world in affording an understanding of variation in disclosure practices. When combined with trauma-informed care, such an approach holds promise for transforming existing online environments into more inclusive and compassionate socio-technological spaces.
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