Taking back the night from sexual predators is no longer limited to the streets.
Supporters of victims of domestic violence and child abuse are having to fight the good fight online, as well.
An ever-increasing number of online sites and web applications are taking advantage of people, especially children and teens, according to a presentation by Safe Haven during its Take Back the Night event Thursday at the Shawano Community High School library.
Shelby Mitchell, sexual assault victim advocate at Safe Haven, said a number of sites, such as Yik Yak and Snap Chat, pop up in her work with victims and during visits to area schools.
“People tweeting, sending texts or pictures — social media is becoming a much bigger issue with violence,” Mitchell said. “All of these things do connect. … It can be where, after someone is assaulted, they see messages about them online through Facebook or any other app.”
It’s getting harder to gather the proof of abuse, as well. Snap Chat photos disappear after 10 seconds, Mitchell said, while an app called Kik allows kids to send private messages that parents cannot see.
Although no longer available, there was an app called Poof that allowed users to make other apps, such as Kik and Yik Yak, disappear, Mitchell said. But anyone who downloaded the app before it was removed can still use it, which means parents need to be aware to what is happening.
“There are new ones coming out every day,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said, according to the Trends in Social Media survey, 96 percent of millennials have joined a social network. She noted it is important for events such as Take Back the Night to make sure the public is armed with the knowledge that a global community is not necessarily a safe one.
“Social media sites are taking off and are going to be a constant issue,” Mitchell said. “I just wanted to bring attention to what’s happening here.”
Besides the social media presentation, Take Back the Night featured the music of Young Chiefs, a drum and dance group from Menominee Indian High School; a presentation on the importance of watching for child abuse; and several tables featuring jeans that residents could decorate with messages advocating the demise of abuse and sexual assaults.
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