Impact of Social Media Use on the Issues of Domestic Violence in the Philippines

A Research Paper

Submitted to the Faculty of

Mindanao State University
Iligan Institute of Technology
Tibanga, Iligan City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements in
Fundamentals of Peace Education

Bacud, Rhode Christian E.

Cordero, Brent Julien M.
Gadiano, Jhon Gley P.
Magsanay, Adrian Rey C.
Paraguya, Loraine E.
Tigoy, Jhannein Eve P.

January 2023
 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Aggressive behavior has been linked to early exposure to media violence (Eron et al.,
1972; Huesmann et al., 2003) and that men who watch violent media are more likely to
embrace violence as a solution to conflict, hold more antagonistic sexual ideas (Peterson &
Pfost, 1989). Social media, in its entirety, provide society with education, help, information,
updates, advertising, noble causes, community building, and connectivity among people; yet,
isn't immune to exploitation as a person is still vulnerable to hacking, addiction, fraud, scams,
reputation damage, and cyber harassment (Akram & Kumar, 2017). Together with the surge
of social media use came the normalization and desensitization of domestic violence; a
persisting challenge that humanity is dealing with right now that is unfortunately on the rise.
In the study of The Lancet published in February 2022, it was found that around one in four
women between the ages of 15 and 49 are thought to have suffered physical, sexual, or
intimate relationship abuse at some point in their lives (“General Health Magazine,” 2022).
These statistics show that domestic violence is a major global problem for both mental and
physical health.
Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that domestic abuse causes more injuries to
women than vehicle accidents, muggings, and rapes, as the Domestic Violence Statistics (n.d.)
remarked. The need to address this issue should not be taken lightly or passively, as this
problem stems from the spouses. They are an essential family member, the basic unit of
society and undeniably a fundamental element that makes up a sound community
(Akhmedov, B. T., 2021).
Concerning the circumstance here in the Philippines, the Philippine Commision on
Women mentioned the 2017 National Demographic Health Survey conducted by the
Philippine Statistics Authority which showed that 25% of women who have ever been
married or in a romantic relationship between the ages of 15 and 49 report having ever been
the victims of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse by their husbands or partners, and 7%
report having done so within the previous 12 months. These data indicate that domestic
violence in the Philippines should not be ignored, and must be addressed immediately.
Moreover, not only is the rampancy of domestic violence that Filipino people should
focus their attention to, but also the prominent reputation that the Philippines rightfully
acclaimed, and that is being known as “The Social Media Capital of the World.” This is due
to its massive use of social networking sites, which also impacts Filipino Internet culture
(Dalangin et al., 2021a). Shocking to know, in total, 92.05 million individuals use social
media in total. Additionally, they use social media for a total of 4 hours, 6 minutes each day
(Baclig, 2022a).

Ultimately, given the rampancy of these events in the country, the researchers wanted
to take advantage of this by connecting these two situations: the prevalence of domestic
violence in the Philippines and the Filipinos’ widespread use of social media. They wanted to
bridge this research gap by making an analysis to provide information on social media’s
impact on domestic violence in the Philippines. Thus, the researchers were specifically
moved to obtain data from existing research studies concerning the issues that our study
focuses on through analyzing the advantages, disadvantages, and assessing the weight of the
overall effects of social media’s prevalence toward the rising issue of domestic violence.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to shed light on the impact of social media on cases of domestic
violence in the Philippines from existing studies on the topic concerned. To further
understand and effectively determine the relationship between social media and domestic
violence, this study specifically sought to answer the following questions:
1. What are the advantages that social media has for addressing the issue of domestic
violence?
2. What are the negative effects of social media on the occurrence of domestic violence?
3. Based on the expected analysis results, does social media have more favorable
benefits or more unfavorable effects on domestic violence in the Philippines?

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to provide analysis on the impact of social media
use on the issues that surround domestic violence in the Philippines. Given so, this research
study specifically aims to:
1. Provide advantages that social media can offer in addressing the issues surrounding
domestic violence.
2. Provide analysis on the negative effects of social media on the occurrence of domestic
violence.
Significance of the Study
This study, "Impact of Social Media Use on the Issues of Domestic Violence in the
Philippines," focuses on the analysis of the existing relationship between social media and
domestic violence in the country, specifically on social media’s influence on the latter. This
study will utilize research studies to obtain valuable findings that can be helpful in making an
analysis. Moreover, this study is expected to be beneficial to the following:
Domestic violence victims. As the primary persons involved in the issue, the analysis
of social media's impact on domestic violence in this study can enlighten them and help them
cope with their difficult situation. Their social media usage would enable them to reap the
benefits of social media while avoiding its negative effects.
Couples. Those couples who want to maintain a strong and firm relationship with
their partners can benefit from this study in order to avoid having their relationship fall from
intimacy to violence.
Netizens. This study is beneficial for them because they are directly engaged with
social media, which can make them aware of the issue of domestic violence. They can
potentially avoid being caught up in domestic violence if they are or will be living with their
spouses or lovers. They can also warn their loved ones about such issues and help them
prevent stumbling into one.
Future Researchers. This research will be a helpful reference for researchers who
plan to conduct any related study on social media and domestic violence.

Theoretical Framework
The foundation of this research is rooted in media effects theory, specifically the
Cultivation Theory developed by George Gerbner in 1969, a concept that suggests that those
who engage in media perceive social realities based on how such realities are depicted in the
media (Perera, 2021). Along with this, a very fitting theory claimed by Albert Bandura
implies the idea that the media can directly "implant" ideas into the minds of the audiences.
This widely accepted theory of his highlights that media representations projecting
transgressive behaviors, such as violence or physical aggression, make the audiences mimic
that kind of conduct as they live their own realities (Sutton, 2021).
In line with this, Valkenburg and Piotrowski (2017) investigated a noteworthy
assertion, which suggested that the media plays a part in the prevalence of violence in society.
In their study’s context, it was their objective to confirm if seeing violence on television, in
movies, or in games could make those exposed aggressive, violent, or even criminal. This
theory was made as they looked back on the recent decades’ copycat crime cases allegedly
committed by the youth and were said to be inspired by violent films or games. In one
instance, in the Netherlands, Tristan van der Vlis committed suicide in 2011 following an
assault incident at a mall. Some newspapers said that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a
game he enjoyed playing, had a disturbing resemblance to the slaughter he inflicted. Their
research investigation’s results did not offer a plain yes-no answer to verify media’s influence
on violence, but the authors believe that it is equally crucial to determine the effects of media
violence— specifically by recognizing which young people are more susceptible to it.
Utilizing and putting into consideration the accumulation of these ideas in our study’s
context can help shape this study’s aim of analyzing social media’s impact on domestic
violence in the Philippines.

Scope and Limitations

This study is descriptive in nature, therefore, the researchers will be utilizing a
descriptive method in providing an analysis on the impact of social media on domestic
violence in the Philippines from research studies surrounding the topic of interest.
The researchers are tasked to utilize existing data from various researches, therefore,
firsthand data gathering will no longer be conducted. The data gathered will be used to
provide an analysis of how social media is advantageous and, at the same time, detrimental to
both ends of domestic violence -- the victim and the abuser. Further analysis beyond the topic
at hand will no longer be presented.

Definition of Terms
Social media - refers to interactive media platforms that make it easier to create and share
content through online communities and networks, including information, ideas, interests,
and other forms of expression (Kietzmann et al., 2011). It is internet-based and allows users
to share anything quickly, including movies, images, documents, and personal information.

Domestic violence - refers to any form of abuse or violence that takes place in a marriage or
other intimate relationship in a domestic setting. It can occur in relationships or between
ex-spouses or partners and is committed by one of the parties to an intimate connection
against the other party. In its broadest definition, domestic violence also includes acts of
aggression directed towards young people, elderly people, or parents (Woodlock, 2017).

Revenge porn - a powerful instrument for abusers to maintain power and control, most
notably by posting or disseminating “intimate photos or videos” of victims without their
consent (Hopkins & Ostini, 2015).
 REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

Studies on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media

Recent studies have already shown the effects of social media in various spheres of
society, whether favorable or detrimental. According to Akram and Kumar (2017), the
positive side of social media in society can be seen in the things that it can provide, such as
connectivity of people, education, help, information and updates, advertising, noble causes,
and community building. On the other hand, it can be exploited as a platform for hacking,
addiction, fraud and scams, reputation damage, and cyber harassment.

The study of Siddiqui and Singh (2016) also posits that social media lets users meet
others they might not have met otherwise. It also aids in the exchange of ideas beyond
geographical borders. It makes it possible for all writers and bloggers to interact with their
clientele. Another advantage of social networking sites is that they bring people together on a
large platform to pursue certain goals. This results in constructive social development. Social
media raises awareness in society through campaigns, commercial pieces, and promotions,
allowing people to stay up to date on current events.

The same study also noted that one negative effect of social media is that it might lead
to addiction. Spending much time on social networking sites can make people lose focus and
attention when working. Since people post images and videos on social media that feature
violence and other derogatory material that can impact children or teenagers' behavior, social
media can easily cause harm to youngsters. By violating people's privacy, it also violates
society.

Studies on the Impact of Social Media in Romantic Relationships

Social media can affect romantic relationships as well. Positively, studies (Farrugia,
2013; Billedo, Kerkhof & Finkenauer, 2015) show that social media can help connect
couples in long-distance relationships which have been prevalent in the Philippines even
before the pandemic. It can also be used for learning about proper management of
relationships from experts which can help to make it stronger and more fulfilling (Delello,
McWhorter & Camp, 2015).
 However, research (Arikewuyo et al., 2022; Utz & Beukeboom, 2011) have also
connected social media with an increase in jealousy amongst spouses since it gives them
access to erroneous information about their partner that they might not otherwise have. For
instance, becoming agitated when they see their partner commenting or liking other people's
posts because they worry that their partner might be interested in someone else. Social media
can also lead to partners having unrealistic ideas about what a relationship is, which can
affect their contentment and cause them to get preoccupied with other things (Watson, 2022).
Unrealistic expectations are not the only thing that can affect a relationship's quality; body
image problems that are brought on by social media can also create issues with emotional and
physical connection.

Social Media Use in the Philippines

Filipinos have been identified as the most active users on a variety of online social
media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Social networking is
one of the most popular web-based activities in the Philippines. The Philippines' widespread
usage of social networking websites has earned them the moniker "The Social Media Capital
of the World" and has influenced Filipino Internet culture (Dalangin et al., 2021b). Social
media accounts are used by 82.4% of Filipinos overall. In total, 92.05 million people utilize
social media in the Philippines. Additionally, they spend a total of 4 hours, 6 minutes daily on
social media (Baclig, 2022b).

Many factors contribute to Filipinos' extensive use of social media. Social media
facilitates interpersonal interaction and communication. Users can interact with posts, videos,
and messages on these sites. They can also send and receive messages. Social networking
platforms also enable users to amuse themselves with interest-related activities. On the other
hand, its convenience is another factor. Filipinos may use social media for free and at any
time, anywhere, thanks to the internet (Tupaz, 2022). Cultural considerations are also
considered, as Filipinos are known for their deep familial relationships. With an estimated
10.2 million Filipinos living/working abroad, the sharing culture provided by social media
helps bridge the gap in ways other platforms cannot. After all, social media is still a tool for
connecting (Estares, 2019).
Studies on the Factors Causing Domestic Violence

Less access to education, personality problems, substance abuse, cultural views,

gender ideology, low self-esteem, difficulty controlling anger, and insecurity are some factors
that may be connected to domestic violence (Bahru et al., 2018). Additionally, low
self-esteem, low education or poverty, youth, violent or criminal behavior as a teen, and
extensive alcohol and drug use were also characteristics mentioned by Capaldi et al. (2012).
Moreover, lack of ability to solve social problems without resorting to violence, poor impulse
control, a history of physical abuse, adherence to rigid gender norms, and attitudes that
support violence and aggression all appear on their list of attributes.
Similar to the relevant studies described, the United States Center for Disease Control
and Prevention (2021) listed multiple factors. The organization highlighted that those who
abuse others may do so in an effort to boost their low self-esteem. The abuser may attempt to
regulate the other person's social life, travel plans, or financial affairs out of a desire for
power or control. The likelihood that someone may abuse others increases if they have a
history of abuse. In addition, some people may turn to domestic violence in cultures where
aggressiveness is normative or where gender inequality is deeply ingrained in order to exert
control over their partners or kids. That being said, domestic violence can be committed by or
suffered by anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Additionally, there may be a
connection between abuse and specific characteristics of mental diseases such borderline
personality disorder. This may be particularly the case if the patient is not receiving effective
care. People who abuse drugs or alcohol frequently may also be more likely to abuse others.

Studies on the Link between Media and Violent Behavior

In the typical paradigm of studies showing the link between violent conduct in the
media and violent behavior, randomly chosen individuals are exposed to either a violent or
nonviolent short film before being observed as they have the chance to act aggressively. For
children, this typically involves playing with other kids, and for adults, it typically involves
engaging in activities that involve administering punishment to someone they mistake for
another research participant.

In such studies, children who watch violent film clips behave more violently right
away than kids who watch nonviolent clips (Bushman, 1998; Paik & Comstock, 1994). For
thoughts and beliefs, the same pattern applies. When compared to those who did not watch
any videos, men who watch violent media are more likely to embrace violence as a solution
to the conflict, hold more antagonistic sexual ideas (Peterson & Pfost, 1989), and engage in
more antisocial behavior overall (Paik & Comstock, 1994). Males and females, children and
adults, and those typically aggressive and nonaggressive have all shown causal effects in
similar trials. The sight of violent television or film content is unquestionably what alters
behavior in these carefully controlled laboratory investigations.

Long-term studies conducted outside of laboratories have linked early exposure to

media violence to later teenage and adult aggressive behavior (Eron et al., 1972; Huesmann et
al., 2003). Even after controlling for early aggressiveness, longitudinal data analysis has
demonstrated that early habitual exposure to media violence in middle childhood predicts
increasing aggressiveness.

The result is obvious when the data from experimental research and longitudinal
investigations are combined with the developed theoretical frameworks to explain how
children are influenced by what they observe. Violence exposure in the media or anywhere
else in the environment (Guerra, Huesmann, & Spindler, 2003) is a significant short- and
long-term risk factor for serious violent behavior.

Influence of Social Media on Global Domestic Violence

Social media has come a long way from the 2000s, with over fifty percent of the
world's population (Dean, 2021) using social media for communication across the globe, easy
access to information, and entertainment. However, with the rise of social media came the
normalization and desensitization of domestic violence and the emergence of new forms of
cyber-enabled harassment and abuse. The police have recorded over 80,000 offenses of
malicious communication in England and Wales for the year ending March 2022 (ONS,
2022). England and Wales have illegalized ‘revenge porn’ since 2015, as stated in Section 33
of their Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. Yet, between April 2020 and June 2022, a total
of 825 suspects were charged with 1,048 revenge porn offenses. Facebook is one of the
commonly used medium for “revenge porn,” a powerful instrument for abusers to maintain
power and control, most notably by posting or disseminating “intimate photos or videos” of
victims without their consent (Hopkins & Ostini, 2015). Some suspects were also accused of
stalking, harassment, or assault (CPS, 2022). There are other countries in the world, like
Australia, that have yet to catch up with these new forms of digital abuse (Hopkins & Ostini,
2015); providing little support and protection to victims of social-media-enabled abuse.

Influence of Social Media on Philippine Domestic Violence

The internet is one of the most influential and enabling venues for opportunity, idea
sharing, and community building. However, women and other vulnerable groups are
frequently intimidated, silenced, and censored. One in four Filipino women had experienced
domestic violence before the pandemic, but the incidence sharply increased once Covid-19
hit the nation. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported an increase in cases of rape from
1,656 in 2018 to 2,168 in 2020. Moreover, from March to May 2020, the Philippine
government recorded an average of eight victim-survivors of sexual assault every day and a
threefold increase in tips reporting online sexual exploitation of children. Studies found that
domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of gender, in which both women (Jaban et
al., 2011) and men (Staras et al., 2013) have the potential to become the victims.

Cases on Helping the Victims of Domestic Violence through Social Media

The internet has long been a source of aid for individuals who have suffered from
domestic violence. Those who feel they cannot ask for help in person usually have more
freedom to do so while on the internet. Social media poses various possible threats to
domestic violence victims and can create circumstances for a former partner to inflict more
harm on them. However, it has certainly proven to be a powerful tool in helping victims
escape and take down their abusers, as well as helping them in their process of personal
mental rehabilitation.
Across the internet, advocates against domestic abuse have introduced different forms
of support for victims that they can safely access without fear of being outed to their abusers.
The popular website Reddit, which has subforums related to specific topics such as hobbies
or relationship advice, has become one such platform where domestic violence victims can
seek help by expressing and sharing their situation of domestic violence (Feiter, 2021).
Netizens can then provide their help and support services by offering advice and working
with them to create safety plans and introduce them to available resources. Similarly,
domestic abuse foundations and groups are also available on Facebook, allowing victims to
reach out for assistance.
Victims of domestic violence are often under threat of more than just physical harm.
Many individuals who experience abuse also deal with their partner controlling their personal
lives, including their social media and internet activity. Apps and social media developers
have developed “vanish mode” in messaging features on social media platforms like
Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram, and more which allows messages to be sent back and forth in
the form of text chats, images, and videos without creating a history for the chat, which
means that anything said between users will disappear completely as soon as a user exits their
inbox (Roche, 2019). Domestic abuse victims can use this to share evidence or reach out for
help in a way that their partner cannot trace.
Lastly, one of the ways social media can help is in the nature of social media itself,
which is by bringing people together, where victims can receive support, not only from
friends and family but other people who have experienced similar forms of abuse (Wallace,
2019). Various movements online are created as a support system for victims of domestic
violence. People online can sympathize, or to an even greater extent, people who went
through the same struggle can empathize with the victim. Through these online groups, a
victim can openly share their story without prejudice which is, in the end, beneficial for the
personal growth and mental rehabilitation of the victims of domestic violence.
 ANALYSIS

Social media has both positive and negative effects on its users. It depends on the age
group, how people use it, how mentally/emotionally capable they are, how they are easily
influenced by what they see on social media, and many other factors. Some people use it to
their advantage without caring for others, whom they might affect positively or negatively by
what they do on social media. Social media was made to make lives more accessible in the
first place, but as time passed, people learned how to use it in a wrong or harmful way,
particularly in the Philippines, domestic abuse. Domestic violence is any form of abuse or
violence in a marriage or another intimate relationship, even in ex-partners. Domestic
violence is relevant since social media usage was prevalent even before the pandemic. Social
media can be a platform that is used by couples for dating, updates, and especially
communicating with those who are in long-distance relationships. But even social media can
be a medium to control someone, abuse partners or even control their social lives. Based on
the study on the factors causing domestic violence by Bahru et al. (2018), the most common
factors are illiteracy, personality problems, substance abuse, cultural views, gender ideology,
low self-esteem, difficulty controlling anger, and insecurity. All of these factors show that
there are negative factors associated with social media in Domestic Violence. Violent
behaviors done by the abusers are not based on their personality problems alone. What they
watch on social media can also influence them. Based on the study conducted about the link
between media and violent behavior led by Bushman (1998), Paik & Comstock (1994), Eron
et al. (1972), and Huesmann et al. (2003) people who are exposed to violence at a very young
age and in a habitual way associate a lot of things they do to violence. Based on their
gathered data, children are influenced by what they observe, which can lead to being abusive,
particularly domestic violence. Statistics in England and Wales have shown that these abuses
still happen despite their revenge porn law. In the Philippines, especially during the
pandemic, when most Filipino people were exposed to long hours of social media since they
could not go outside, the cases of online sexual exploitation of children and sexual assault
increased. Overall, based on the collected data and analysis from different research studies,
social media can be one of the factors causing domestic violence.

Social media is used as a medium by abusers to control their partners or ex-partners is

not the only use of it. However, the victims can also use social media to reach out or seek
help online, give evidence to the authorities or support groups, and even expose their abusive
partners. The Philippines has several safeguards in place to ensure women's safety and
protection at all times, such as agencies called the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW),
wherein reports of abuse regarding women's safety are addressed. Social media is a powerful
tool that could alter the whole situation. It has such influence that it could enable the
perpetrator and victims to do so. Online platforms such as The Lunas collective provide the
necessity for domestic violence survivors. In addition, a Facebook page entitled Bantay
Bastos currently has 10k members actively surfacing, tracking down, and reporting
exploitative social media accounts where child porn peddlers allegedly proliferate. PMAJ Ibo
of the Police Regional Office-7 noticed a continuing increase in cases relating to violence
against women and children in Cebu during the year 2022, attributing it to victims being
empowered to report such cases (Magsumbol, 2022). A feat (women empowerment) achieved
because social media gives many women new ways to interact, communicate, and provide
help and support. When social media usage was uncommon, most victims suffered without
being able to reach out since social media was not that relevant before, unlike in the present
times. Due to social media, even if there are a lot of domestic abusers, it can lessen the
number of cases since more people are aware of this problem and our societies join in groups
to make sure abusers will suffer and help save the victims. That is why in the end, the victims
of domestic abuse can use online help and share their experiences without prejudice. It is
beneficial for them since it could help them get out of the situation and help them recover
from the incident.
 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, social media has provided domestic violence victims with the help and
support they need, giving them new ways to interact and communicate with fellow victims
and survivors of abuse. However, there still exists the threat of aggressive behavior due to
exposure to violence in social media, especially since there seems to be little control on the
type of media consumed. Case in point, children accidentally watch violent videos due to a
member of the family watching similar videos or intimate photos and videos quickly
circulating online because of people sharing or commenting. It is unclear, however, if social
media provided more favorable or unfavorable effects on domestic violence in the
Philippines. Due to easy access, social media magnifies aggressive behavior mainly caused
by social factors. However, it cannot be denied that social media have provided victims and
survivors a platform to speak and reach out. This topic requires more investigation since this
is more than just black and white. This study has aimed to discuss the positive impacts of
social media use on issues of domestic violence and its adverse effects, and to spread
awareness to the netizens and victims of domestic abuse. Further research was used as
references in this study to gather a more accurate result to help others become aware of this
issue, what social media might bring to their loved ones, and how to make good use of it,
even for themselves.
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