When Rape Goes Viral: Youth and Sexual Assault in the Digital Age

Stories of teen sexting scandals, cyberbullying, and image-based sexual abuse have become commonplace in the digital age, and Anna Gjika's book "When Rape Goes Viral" argues that we should examine these incidents for what they tell us about youth peer cultures and the gender norms and sexual ethics governing their interactions. Gjika exposes the unequal and heteronormative power dynamics informing teens' intimate relationships and online practices and critically interrogates the role of digital cultures and broader social values in sanctioning abuse. The book also explores the consequences of social media and digital evidence for young victim-survivors and perpetrators of sexual assault.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 21 November 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

The prevalence of teen sexting scandals, cyberbullying, and image-based sexual abuse has become a distressing feature of the digital age, presenting challenges for adults to effectively monitor and understand the digital engagement of young people. In her book, When Rape Goes Viral, Anna Gjika takes a critical approach to these incidents, arguing that rather than solely focusing on surveillance, we should examine them for their insights into youth peer cultures, gender norms, and sexual ethics governing their interactions. Through extensive interviews with teens and high-profile cases of mediated juvenile sexual assault, Gjika exposes the unequal and heteronormative power dynamics that shape teens' intimate relationships and online practices. She critically interrogates the role of digital cultures and broader social values in perpetuating abuse.

Furthermore, the book delves into the consequences of social media and digital evidence for young victim-survivors and perpetrators of sexual assault. It highlights the paradoxical capacities of technology for social and legal responses to gender-based violence. Gjika's work sheds light on the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address these issues, including education, awareness, and reform of social norms and legal frameworks. By examining the intersection of technology, culture, and gender, When Rape Goes Viral contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing young people in the digital age.

Weight: 418g
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520391031