Unsafe spaces

Nepali youngsters are increasingly vulnerable to online intimate partner violence.

In Nepal, where guardians often scrutinise young people’s lives, the internet offers them the freedom rarely available offline. The young can be whoever they want, express themselves, build a community, or find love. Yet the internet’s accessibility makes it vulnerable to being used in ways that could harm them. This is especially worrisome when online platforms are used to threaten, control or exploit young individuals in relationships. With young people increasingly relying on digital devices for social interaction, online intimate partner violence (IPV) is emerging as a pressing issue. This is evident in a recent