Digital addiction induces tech-violence against women

Digital addiction has become a serious problem in the country, especially for children and adolescents, as a large number of them are already trapped in depression and frustration, leading to self-destructive attitudes. The frequent appearance of new smartphone models, coupled with the rise in various applications, has made the situation complex and toxic. It becomes increasingly difficult to restrain the use of digital or electronic devices, although most users are aware that they are wasting valuable time, harming their eyes, and gradually losing their concentration.  Nevertheless, they are not putting in any effort to reverse the course, making the addiction worse.  

Psychologists say that addiction to anything usually progresses through three levels: entry, moderate, and severe. Most individuals, however, fall into the moderate category from the entry level at a faster pace, and they often cannot realise it. In the case of digital addiction, a moderate level is also a matter of significant concern, as it rapidly alters brain plasticity. In other words, the brain's ability to adapt and reorganise deteriorates and thinking patterns also change. The outcome is a behavioural change towards a negative and destructive direction, characterised by a reduction in tolerance, sensitivity, and adaptability. Instead, digitally addicted people become intolerant, aggressive, careless and self-centred. As a result, their physical and mental health deteriorates also.

One of the negative consequences of digital addiction is virtual violence against women and children. It is a new phenomenon, and women of different ages are the main victims of this kind of harassment and violence. By misusing the various tools of the electronic devices and applications, a growing number of men are now harassing women. The harassment turned into a kind of violence traumatising the victims for long.  A sad thing is that the abusers include even some family members of the women.

Last month, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) released the report of the Violence Against Women Survey 2024. For the first time, the survey showed that there is a growing threat of some critical forms of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in the country. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) defined the TFGBV as an act of violence perpetrated by one or more individuals that is committed, assisted, aggravated and amplified in part or fully by the use of information and communication technologies or digital media against a person based on gender.

According to the BBS survey findings, some 8.30 per cent of women in Bangladesh experienced 'unwanted sexual communications, sexual blackmail or image-based abuse or technology-facilitated controlling behaviour in their lifetime.' The prevalence of digital violence against women is higher in urban areas, as 10.30 per cent of surveyed women reported that they were victims of TFGBV. In rural areas, the ratio is 8.30 per cent. Again, married women who did not stay with their husbands for various reasons are the major victims, followed by non-married women. Moreover, the use of digital devices increases exposure to TFGBV. Among women who use any electronic device, 10.30 per cent reported lifetime experience, compared to 3.4 per cent among non-users.

There is a long list of forms and acts considered as digital violence or tech-driven violence. Some of these are sextortion (blackmail by threatening to publish sexual information, photos or videos); image-based abuse (sharing intimate images without consent); doxxing (publishing private personal information); cyberbullying and online gender and sexual harassment. 

Overall, the survey findings suggest that TFGBV is a growing concern in Bangladesh, especially among younger, urban and digitally connected women. In most cases, victims do not seek remedies as they are hardly aware of the legal redress or think that the legal procedure is complex. So, addressing the tech-violence requires a comprehensive approach to curbing digital addiction along with mass awareness on the negative consequence of the unrestricted use of electronic devices.

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