The 8 types of abuse through WhatsApp (and their red flags)

Social networks are indispensable tools in our modern world, especially instant messaging. Applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram, the most used, have made mobile phones stop being used for what they were conceived: making calls.

It is much easier, faster and more comfortable to send a message than not to call, which is why people prefer to use the first form of communication. In addition, with WhatsApp you can send audios, images, emoticons, videos and all kinds of multimedia resources.

All progress brings with it certain risks and misuses, cyberbullying being the result of misuse of new technologies. There are several types of abuse through WhatsApp and similar applications that can be observed in conversations using these apps, and then we are going to explore them.

• Related article: "The 9 types of abuse and their characteristics"

The types of abuse through WhatsApp

Abuse through WhatsApp is some of the ways in which cyberbullying and other forms of psychological violence are manifested

. These terms refer to the series of behaviors aimed at controlling, denigrating, manipulate and harm a person, especially a partner, by using the new technologies. In this case, we are going to focus on one of the main immediate messaging applications more used around the world, but it is also applicable to Telegram and any messaging application snapshot,

Despite much progress in raising awareness about psychological abuse, the truth is that today not everyone conceives of this type of virtual dynamics as a real form of abuse or bullying. Many people, and worryingly many adolescents, assume that if their partners control their cell phone use or want to know who they talk to is a way of showing affection.

The new forms of abuse and mistreatment that have emerged with the expansion of new technologies are not uncommon. In fact, there are already studies that indicate that the number of individuals who have suffered them is very high. An example of this is a study carried out by the Autonomous University of Madrid (2015) which indicated that 50% of the population group between the ages of 18 and 30 have suffered some type of cyberbullying, including abuse through WhatsApp.

The main forms of this type of abuse are the following.

1. Urgency of receiving a response

Phrases like "why don't you answer me?" or what are you doing?" are common in WhatsApp couple chats, this being one of the most recurrent experiences in people who have just started an emotional relationship of any kind. And not only with the couple, it can also happen with friends or family who require us to respond instantly to their messages. If they are repeated in a systematic way, they can be considered a form of harassment.

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2. Reproach being online and not talking to you

There are people who do not get along very well with seeing their partner who is connected and online but who is not talking to him. This situation can cause very toxic feelings for the relationship to emerge, such as mistrust, anger or jealousy. The fact that the other person did not open to say hello at least causes them a lot of frustration and they do not hesitate to demand that they tell them who they were talking to.

This can get worse, demanding that she send you snapshots of who she was talking to or the audios that she has shared, to make sure there is no other person in her life or cheating on her with her.

3. Block after discussion

Another type of mistreatment through WhatsApp is to apply what is known as the "ice law", something common after an argument or anger. One of the two decides to cut off contact with the other, not speak, distance themselves and even block him from his contact list for a few hours or days. This behavior shows great immaturity and greatly disturbs the blocked person, who feels that he or she does not have the slightest option to explain or receive explanations. The relationship is simply terminated unilaterally.

We should not confuse this with the healthy technique of zero contact after a breakup. This technique is used to, after breaking up with someone, avoid suffering when seeing that person on social networksIn addition to also avoiding the temptation to speak to him again and open the wounds that were healing. In the case of blocking, this is a form of abuse when the relationship is still active and is carried out as a kind of punishment for the other party.

• Related article: "Ghosting: cutting off the relationship without explaining or replying to messages"

4. Cybergaslighting

Another form of abuse is to resort to the famous "gaslighting" or gas light. In this particular case, consists of sending puzzling and suspicious messages to the partner, friend or victim in question to confuse them and make them doubt their own memory. It can also consist of sending messages making it understood that one is proud of some trait or milestone what the other person has achieved and then tell him that she has made the wrong chat and that the message was not going to he.

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5. Force sexting

Sexting is a very common practice that involves exchanging racy photos and videos. This exchange of intimate material is legal if both parties agree and there is a commitment that they will not pass on to third parties.

However, and especially among young people, It may happen that one of the partners requires the other to do so, even when she does not want to, either because she does not feel like it or because she does not feel comfortable.

Sexting has become one of the most common forms of abuse on WhatsApp and is evidenced in phrases such as “if you wanted me, you would do it” or “surely you did it with your ex, but you don't want to do it with me because you don't love me… ”The person who demands it, if this wish is denied, can ridicule, criticize and even threaten the other part.

• Related article: "What is sexting and why is it a risk"

6. Location control

Many couples agree to share their locations with each other, by mutual agreement and without suspicion.. If there is reciprocity on the part of both or it is used with the intention of making sure that the other person is okay or that if something happens to him / her knowing where to go to look for it, it is lawful and respectable. However, there are few cases in which sending the location is used as a control and harassment strategy, making sure the other person is not at an ex's house or with a friend with whom she is having an affair infidelity.

Wanting to know at all times where the couple is and riddling them with questions about why they are find there is another clear form of psychological abuse carried out through this messaging application snapshot.

7. Message bombardment

As the years go by, there is more and more evidence that social media and mobile applications can negatively affect our mood if used irresponsibly. Messaging services help us to transmit our status directly and in real time. encourage other people, either in writing, with emoticons, with audios or directly with video conferencing.

A very recurrent form of abuse through WhatsApp is that they send us a lot of messages in a short time, such as 30 in less than an hour. The content of these messages can be very varied, ranging from messages of affection such as that they miss us or how much they love us going through toxic and desperate comments such as, for example, that we are not talking to him or that we should be more aware of him or her.

As there are so many messages said in such a short time, it is difficult for the other person to have time to answer them all, which makes the sender begin to despair and get angry. The longer it takes to respond to everything, the more catastrophic scenarios the person who sent the messages is mounted. That is when the strategy of sending messages begins and, after a short time, deleting them so that the other party sees them and is more aware of the mobile for fear of missing something (FOMO).

Later, the sender of these messages can go from effusiveness to criticism or aggressiveness in a very short time, with phrases like “is that I am not a priority for you ”,“ I see that you have more important things to do than deign to answer me ”,“ if you care so much about me, why don't you read everything you command?"...

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8. Ask for mobile passwords

Couples and friends who trust and maintain good communication with each other do not need to know who the other person is talking to or stops talking to.. For this reason, when a person asks another person for the password or the unlock pattern of their mobile, it can be interpreted as a sign of distrust, jealousy and fear. Not respecting a person's privacy is abuse.

Requiring the password is not a form of abuse through WhatsApp in itself, but it can involve this application. The person interested in obtaining this password may want to gossip about his victim's WhatsApp, in addition to other applications such as Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or the image gallery to see if there are any photos of an ex or risque photos of someone outside the relationship.

Conclusions and final reflection

New technologies represent great advances for humanity but, as it has always been, progress implies certain risks that must be identified and solved. WhatsApp is a very useful instant messaging application, almost essential in our day to day and that has overthrown the main utility of mobile phones, which is nothing more than calling other persons. Instant messaging is a more direct, fast, and impersonal form of communication.

However, with all the good things, there are several types of abuse through WhatsApp, relatively common cyberbullying behaviors among youth, especially teens, who make a less responsible use of new technologies. Ironically, it's these same digital native teens whose IT skills and communication are far superior to those of predecessor generations, including young adults twentysomethings.

Education and awareness is key to prevent a generation that has a more skillful use of new technologies than following make such an irresponsible use that not even the most adults can avoid its dire consequences for relationships and health mental.