Dating Apps: A New Emerging Platform for Sexual Harassment? A Scoping Review

Abstract

Currently, dating apps are one of the most popular platforms for meeting romantic and sexual partners. However, little is known about the potential for sexual harassment on these platforms. In the current scoping review, we sought to examine what is known about sexual harassment facilitated through smartphone dating apps. We searched for studies that reported on sexual harassment via dating apps through PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Communication Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, and IEEE Xplore databases. Twelve studies addressed the risk of sexual harassment on dating apps. We found that sexual harassment when using dating apps is prevalent and ranges between 57 and 88.8%, with two populations being at higher risk: women and individuals who identify as a sexual minority. In terms of forms of harassment, sexual harassment via dating apps can take place online (e.g., being sent unsolicited images, or “dick pics”) or offline (e.g., a face-to-face meeting that was arranged on a dating app). Experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps is associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, loneliness, early childhood maltreatment, less perceived self-control, and lower self-esteem. Some studies suggest that experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps reflects social structures and appears differently in different groups (e.g., among sexual minorities). More research is needed to capture the prevalence of adult sexual harassment via the use of dating apps, the different forms of harassment, risk and protective factors, and social and cultural structures that facilitate this kind of sexual harassment.

Sexual Harassment at Work: Scoping Review of Reviews

“…This suggests a trend towards more rigorous and scientifically robust research methodologies, most of the reviews being focused on specific subpopulations under high risk 1,7 or on more vulnerable environments or situations. 4 The incorporation of insights from various disciplines, such as healthcare, psychology, and sociology, indicates a growing interdisciplinary approach to studying SH. This trend underscores the complex nature of SH, which intersects with various aspects of human behavior, societal norms, and institutional practices.…”

“…A growing body of research is dedicated to understanding digital and online forms of SH, for instance using dating apps. 4 This modern manifestation of harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, cyberstalking, and the sharing of explicit images without consent, often facilitated through digital platforms and social media. The literature reflects a growing awareness of the challenges in combating online harassment, given its pervasive and often anonymous nature.…”

“…For instance, in the United States, the movement increased reporting of sex crimes during its first semester, and the effect persisted for two years, by increased reporting, arrests for sexual assault, their effects were similar across racial and socioeconomic groups. 3 Concomitantly, the realm of empirical research concerning SH has witnessed a pronounced escalation, 4 driven by mounting interest from the general public and the academic community alike. 5,6 The SH phenomenon poses a grave threat to equal opportunity and gender equity in the workplace, particularly impacting the career development of women.…”

Knowledge Regarding Sexual Abuse of Selected University Students of Dhaka City

“…The Bangladesh constitution's Article 19 (1), (2), and (3) state that there shall be opportunity equality and that governments shall take all necessary steps to end inequality and ensure the participation of women in all spheres of public life. Article 27 states that all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to the same degree of legal protection (Laws of Bangladesh,1972).…”

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Introduction: Sexual harassment involves an assortment of coercive behaviors, including physical force, intimidation, and various forms of compulsion, including verbal harassment and forced penetration [1]. Sexual abuse can happen to both men and women.

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