Technology-Facilitated Violence: The New Frontier for Prevention Practitioners

Technology-facilitated violence is reshaping the landscape of prevention. From cyberstalking to extremist recruitment, digital platforms are being weaponized in ways that demand new strategies. In this guest post, Dr. Vi Le explores what practitioners need to know, what’s working, and how prevention must evolve to keep individuals and communities safe—online and offline.

By Vi Le, PhD, MPH

In recent years, the landscape of violence prevention has shifted dramatically. As our lives become increasingly digital, so too do the risks we face. Technology-facilitated violence (TFV) is rapidly emerging as a critical public health concern. For prevention practitioners and organizations, understanding and addressing TFV is essential.

TFV is not just about cyberbullying or online harassment. It’s also about how digital platforms can be weaponized to incite, organize, and amplify violent extremism—including the kind that has led to recent ideologically motivated shootings. This intersection demands urgent attention from those working to prevent violence in all its forms.

Behind the screen: technology can be a tool for connection—or a weapon for harm. Prevention must meet people where they are, online and offline.

What Is Technology-Facilitated Violence?

Technology-facilitated violence (TFV) refers to any form of harm, abuse, or violence that is enabled, amplified, or perpetrated through digital technologies or online platforms. This includes, but is not limited to, harassment, threats, stalking, exploitation, and the spread of extremist content via social media, messaging apps, websites, and other digital tools. TFV can target individuals, groups, or communities, and may occur in personal, professional, or public contexts. The digital nature of TFV allows perpetrators to reach victims across distances, often anonymously, and can escalate the scale and impact of violence beyond traditional boundaries.

Why Prevention Must Go Digital

Traditional violence prevention strategies—school-based programs, in-person trainings, and community outreach—remain vital. But the digital shift means prevention must also adapt. Recent research and practice have identified a mix of approaches:

Primary Prevention: Programs focused on healthy relationships, digital citizenship, and cyber safety. These are often delivered in schools or via online platforms.

Secondary Prevention: Tools like apps for safety planning, machine learning algorithms to detect cyberstalking, and online bystander intervention trainings.

Tertiary Prevention: Efforts to mitigate long-term impacts, such as therapy and support services for survivors.

The Link to Violent Extremism Online

TFV doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The same digital platforms that facilitate cyberbullying and nonconsensual pornography are also used to spread hate, radicalize individuals, and organize acts of violent extremism. Recent politically motivated shootings have highlighted how online spaces can be breeding grounds for extremist ideologies and targeted violence.

For example, perpetrators of mass shootings have often used social media to announce intentions, share manifestos, or livestream attacks. Online forums and encrypted messaging apps can serve as echo chambers, reinforcing harmful beliefs and connecting individuals with violent networks.

This convergence means that prevention practitioners must broaden their lens. Addressing TFV is not just about protecting individuals from personal harm—it’s about disrupting the pathways that lead from online harassment and abuse to radicalization and real-world violence.

Prevention Strategies That Work and What’s Missing

Recent practice and research have found several promising strategies:

School-Based Digital Citizenship Programs: Teaching youth to navigate online spaces safely, recognize unhealthy relationships, and respond to digital dilemmas

Apps and Machine Learning Tools: Detecting cyberstalking, deepfake pornography, and abusive messages in real time.

Text Message Campaigns: Promoting healthy relationships and providing resources directly to teens’ phones.

Bystander Intervention Trainings: Empowering individuals to intervene when they witness online abuse or extremist content.

However, gaps remain. Most interventions focus on secondary prevention—responding after violence has occurred. There is a pressing need for more primary prevention efforts that address the root causes of TFV and violent extremism online.

Recommendations for Practitioners and Organizations

1. Integrate Digital Safety into All Prevention Efforts: Whether working in schools, communities, or online, make digital safety and healthy online relationships a core part of your programming.

2. Leverage Technology for Prevention: Use apps, online trainings, and machine learning tools to reach at-risk populations and detect early signs of abuse or radicalization.

3. Collaborate Across Sectors: Partner with tech companies, law enforcement, mental health providers, and community organizations to create comprehensive prevention strategies.

4. Advocate for Policy Change: Push for policies that require platforms to implement safety mechanisms—such as AI to detect explicit images, identity verification, and rapid response to reports of abuse.

5. Address Violent Extremism as Part of TFV Prevention: Recognize the overlap between interpersonal violence and extremist violence online. Train practitioners to identify and respond to signs of radicalization in digital spaces.

Conclusion: Prevention in the Digital Age

Technology-facilitated violence is a complex, evolving challenge. For prevention practitioners and organizations, the task is clear: adapt, innovate, and collaborate to protect individuals and communities from harm, both online and offline. By understanding the connections between TFV and violent extremism, we can build more resilient, safer digital environments and prevent the next tragedy before it starts.

About the Author

Vi Donna Le, PhD, MPH, is a public health scientist and Associate Consultant with VPS. With more than 15 years of experience, she has led national initiatives on intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, and technology-facilitated violence. Dr. Le has authored over 50 publications, co-developed CDC’s Dating Matters prevention model, and contributed to flagship resources guiding communities in preventing violence. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice to address the evolving challenges of violence in both digital and offline spaces.

Learn more about Dr. Le’s work: violencepreventionsolutions.com/team/vi-le

At Violence Prevention Solutions, we know that prevention must evolve with the challenges communities face today. Our team brings expertise in translating cutting-edge research into practical strategies for schools, communities, and organizations—online and offline.

We partner with practitioners, policymakers, and tech leaders to design prevention approaches that are evidence-based, scalable, and grounded in the realities of digital life.

If your organization is ready to strengthen its prevention efforts in the digital age, reach out today to sarah@violencepreventionsolutions.com.

Together, we can build safer, more resilient communities.