Violence Against Women on Social Networks: A Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of gender-based violence experienced through social networks among adult women in Spain. Specific objectives included describing in-person sexual violence within the context of GBV and analyzing the relationship between GBV experienced on social networks and in-person sexual violence. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study surveyed 1177 adult women aged 18-59 years. Data were collected through validated instruments, including the Cyber Dating Abuse Questionnaire, Online Sexual Victimization Scale, and Dating Violence Questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's Rho, were used to examine violence as a function of sociodemographic variables, social network usage, and pornography consumption. Results: Of participants, 68.2% reported experiencing GBV on social networks, 62.7% reported online sexual violence, and 66.0% reported in-person sexual violence. Gender-based violence was significantly correlated with online sexual violence (r = 0.390, p < 0.001) and in-person sexual violence (r = 0.463, p < 0.001). Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds reported higher victimization rates for all forms of violence analyzed (p < 0.05). Increased daily social network usage and pornography consumption were associated with higher victimization rates (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Gender-based violence on social networks is pervasive among adult women in Spain and is closely linked to in-person sexual violence. Socioeconomic factors, time spent on social networks, and pornography consumption were key predictors of victimization. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing online violence to mitigate gender-based violence in broader contexts.