In Nepal, where guardians often scrutinise young people’s lives, the internet offers them the freedom rarely available offline. The young can be whoever they want, express themselves, build a community, or find love. Yet the internet’s accessibility makes it vulnerable to being used in ways that could harm them. This is especially worrisome when online platforms are used to threaten, control or exploit young individuals in relationships. With young people increasingly relying on digital devices for social interaction, online intimate partner violence (IPV) is emerging as a pressing issue. This is evident in a recent research report released by ChildSafeNet and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI). The study, spanning ten districts across all provinces and involving 4,501 participants aged 16 to 24, discovered that one in four young people in relationships had faced online IPV.

We still see violence as having a physical form. However, according to the study, online IPV had direct connections with violence in real life, with 46 percent of the participants facing both online and offline violence. For young people just starting to explore relationships, the boundaries of acceptable behaviour may not always be clear. So, they are prone to online violence, which can take the form of sextortion, cyberstalking, doxxing (publicly sharing a person’s private information without their consent), impersonation, and so on.

Most Nepali parents are usually unaware of the activities of their children in the digital realm. When a child experiences violence, the parents should be their primary source of support. Unfortunately, our family settings do not offer an environment conducive to such conversations. High digital illiteracy among older Nepalis exacerbates the digital gap between parents and their children, increasing the vulnerability of young individuals online.

Social media and messaging apps aren’t the only places where IPV can occur. These days, online gaming apps like Free Fire and PUBG, among others, where people can meet and talk with strangers while gaming, have also become breeding grounds for online IPV. Artificial Intelligence technologies have worsened matters with the emergence of Deep Fakes and other image and video manipulation tools. Further, many individuals use online platforms to engage in minor-adult relationships. Adults with more knowledge and experience can take advantage of online spaces to groom young people into doing certain harmful activities. Being exposed to such negativity at a young age can severely impact young individuals’ psychological well-being.

The mindset with which we view violence against young people is reflected in our legal mechanisms. The 2008 Electronic Transaction Act (ETA), which addresses cybercrimes, does not sufficiently include online IPV or online child sexual abuse. Although the Domestic Violence (Offense and Punishment) Act 2009 deals with IPV within families, it excludes romantic relationships. Legal challenges such as strict time limits for filing complaints (35 days) also hinder seeking justice. While young minds suffer, our governments are busy enforcing and lifting bans on media platforms driven by their whims and vested interests.

We must take the online well-being of young people seriously by revising laws and recognising online IPV among young people. Innovations to tackle online violence creatively and efficiently can also be explored. In addition to including online IPV awareness in school curricula, online spaces can also be utilised. During covid, UN Women collaborated with tech companies in the US to share information about services and resources available for survivors of intimate partner violence. Perhaps our government can partner with such organisations to utilise the online space for awareness and support. In addition, it is vital that guardians encourage help-seeking behaviour in their children.