New technology has given teens new ways to connect — and to attack. That’s why the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) are teaming up to fight “digital dating abuse.”

The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), Advertising Council and R/GA launched That’s Not Cool last year. Each month the campaign generates nearly 70,000 Web site visitors, and thousands of those teens send That’s Not Cool Callout Cards (e-cards with a brief message such as the one Lara created) to their friends and dating partners.

Lara Beck, a junior at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, is the winner of a national contest to design a new “Callout Card” — a brief, creative message in “teen speak” that raises awareness about preventing digital dating abuse. The contest is part of the That’s Not Cool campaign, a national public service awareness effort designed to help teens recognize digital dating abuse and take steps to prevent it.

“I’m so excited that I won this contest and that I get to go to the NFL PLAYERS Gala,” 16-year-old Beck said. “Dating violence is a serious issue, and I designed a Callout Card to convey in a straightforward way that teens who are in bad or dangerous relationships should get help and get out.” Click here to see Lara’s winning entry.

Digital communication is central to teens’ lives and relationships. With these new technologies come the risk of digital dating abuse, which includes unwanted, repeated calls or text messages; hacking into e-mail; spying on social networking accounts; or being pressured to send private or embarrassing pictures or videos.

“Our That’s Not Cool campaign has reached thousands and thousands of teens such as Lara all across the country, helping them recognize that controlling behavior can cross the line and become abuse,” said FVPF President Esta Soler. “We are delighted with Lara’s powerful and creative entry and so proud that she is representing the campaign at the NFL PLAYERS Gala. Her Callout Card will help start conversations about textual harassment and digital abuse, give teens the tools to recognize and talk about it, and encourage them to define what is and isn’t OK.”

“Our organization and the players we serve understand the importance of education and prevention as it relates to dating violence. In addition to this contest, another effort that we’re particularly proud of is a book called Dedicated to Daughters, which will hit stores this June. The NFLPA led the way in making this book happen by teaming with Triumph Books, A Call to Men and NFL Player Development to demonstrate our commitment to this issue. The book will feature special photographs of players with their daughters alongside inspiring personal accounts, reflections and thoughts about fatherhood and manhood. All proceeds will be donated to nonprofits dedicated to ending violence against women,” said Teri Patterson, NFLPA Special Counsel to the Executive Director.

According to Technology and Teen Dating Abuse Survey, 2007 (conducted by Teen Research Unlimited and Liz Claiborne), one in three teens say they have been text messaged 10, 20 or 30 times an hour by a partner wanting to know where they are, what they’re doing or who they’re with. One in four teens in a relationship have been called disparaging names, harassed or put down by a partner through cell phones and texting.  More than half of teen girls (51 percent) say pressure from a guy is a reason girls send sexy messages or images, and 18 percent of teen boys say pressure from a girl is a reason (Sex and Tech Survey, conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 2008).
That’s Not Cool includes an interactive Web site, mobile phone component, television, radio, posters in schools and malls, and online ads all designed to help youth recognize digital dating abuse and give them tools to avoid it.

At ThatsNotCool.com, teens can find resources to “draw their own digital line” and a forum to discuss this form of abuse and seek help. That’s Not Cool is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence against Women.