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What is dating abuse?

Blog post

“Teen dating violence [is] far too prevalent and prevents far too many students from being able to focus on their education.”
– Kevin Jennings, the Assistant Deputy Secretary, US Department of Education

Dating abuse, also known as teen dating violence, is the use of physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or technological conduct by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control a dating partner, regardless of whether that relationship is continuing or has concluded, or the number of interactions between the individuals involved.

A dating partner is any person, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, involved in a relationship with another person, where the relationship is primarily characterized by social contact of a romantic or intimate nature, whether casual, serious, short-term, long-term, or as defined by either person.