Graduation Semester and Year
Summer 2026
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Social Work
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Jaclyn Kirsch
Second Advisor
Morgan PettyJohn
Third Advisor
Jessica Sanchez
Abstract
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a prevalent adverse childhood experience with lasting psychological and behavioral consequences. As adolescents increasingly engage with social media, with 95% of teens aged 13-17 reporting using it, digital spaces have become a significant context in which dating abuse can occur. Digital dating abuse (DDA) refers to patterns of abusive behaviors that are directed toward a dating partner through digital technologies, including social media and mobile phones. Despite the growing role of social media in adolescent relationships, research on how adolescent girls experience DDA in these contexts remains limited. The central question for this scoping review was: What is known about adolescent girls’ digital dating abuse (DDA) experiences via social media platforms? This review examined existing evidence of such experiences of DDA via social platforms by following the Arksey and O’Malley (2205) framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search identified 22 studies published between 2013 and 2025 that met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that adolescent girls experience DDA as a complex, gendered, and relational issue involving both victimization and perpetration. Girls reported higher rates of digital sexual coercion and direct aggression compared to boys, while certain behaviors, such as monitoring and control were frequently normalized. Some studies also reported on psychosocial outcomes. However, studies did not disaggregate social media from other digital communication, which limit platform-specific conclusions. These findings underscore the need for longitudinal research, qualitative perspectives, diverse samples, standardized measurement, and platform-specific analyses to inform effective prevention, intervention, and policy efforts.
Keywords
Digital dating abuse, Social media, Adolescent girls, Electronic aggression, Digital monitoring and control, United States
Disciplines
Communication Technology and New Media | Psychology | Public Health | Social Media | Social Work | Women's Studies
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Rodriguez, Kiara E., "Adolescent Girls’ Experiences of Digital Dating Abuse Through Social Media: A Scoping Review" (2026). Social Work Theses. 4.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/socialwork_theses2/4
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Psychology Commons, Public Health Commons, Social Media Commons, Social Work Commons, Women's Studies Commons