Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia are working with boys and young men in regional areas to help stamp out technology-based abuse of girls and young women.
Head of The Kids Human Development and Community Wellbeing team Professor Francis Mitrou and Dr Vincent Mancini will lead the $369,000 project, Giving voice to rural and regional boys and young men and supporting parents to prevent tech-based abuse of girls and young women, which was made possible thanks to an Australian Government grant awarded through the eSafety Commissioner’s Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women Grants Program.
Professor Mitrou, also a Principal Research Fellow with the University of Western Australia’s Medical School and Centre for Child Health Research, said focusing on the voices of boys and young men was a critical component of the study.
“Although some men may perpetrate these behaviours, we also know that the perspectives of boys and young men who care about the safety of girls and women in their communities will be important in helping to stamp out these behaviours,” Professor Mitrou said.
“Boys may often face peer pressure to engage in abusive or misogynistic behaviours online. Giving them a voice in the conversation to understand the harms of these behaviours and to help develop solutions provides safe, constructive spaces to reflect and reject these practices.
“Involving boys and young men directly ensures authentic and effective solutions that resonate with their peers and that should lead to lasting behavioural change. It fosters positive peer leadership, helping to build respectful digital cultures – especially in male-dominated or regional environments.”
Dr Mancini, also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with UWA’s Medical School, said the findings would be used to recommend appropriate and sustainable changes to government and service providers to minimise technology-facilitated abuse in regional communities.
“It’s our hope the findings will guide more effective government policies, education programs, and family support services in regional Australia by centring youth – especially boys and young men – as key voices in understanding and preventing tech-based abuse,” Dr Mancini said.
“The research will also help highlight gaps in current responses and help shape accessible, locally relevant solutions for rural communities.”
Previous studies have revealed gendered online abuse disproportionately affects young women, with a European survey finding 64% of female students had experienced at least one form of cyber-dating abuse.
The research also indicates young women in regional communities face intensified risks of tech-based abuse due to a combination of structural and social factors. Key challenges include limited access to local support services, lack of anonymity or poor digital connectivity.
Professor Mitrou and Dr Mancini’s project will be conducted in three regional WA communities representing farming, mining and fishing towns.
The first phase will involve listening to boys and young men to explore their views on online abuse and identify the kinds of support and information they need.
The second phase will utilise the Beacon app – a cyber safety app developed by The Kids and Dolly’s Dream that is already trusted by more than 30,000 users – to help parents and caregivers across Australia to access reliable online safety advice.
The investigators would like to thank Human Development and Community Wellbeing Program Manager Johanna Rewa for her excellent work in supporting the grant application.
The grant will be administered via The University of Western Australia.