It’s never been easier to start a relationship or easier to misunderstand what a healthy relationship looks like. Young adults often navigate love and dating at the intersection of social media culture, fast-moving communication, and constant digital connection. Because of this, early warning signs of unhealthy behavior can be harder to spot, easier to explain away, and sometimes even mislabeled as “romantic.”

Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected, find lost items, and share our locations with people we trust. But those same tools can be misused to monitor, control, and silently follow someone without their consent. This kind of behavior is often called digital stalking or technology-facilitated abuse, and it can be deeply frightening and disorienting.

When someone you care about is in a relationship that feels “off,” it can be difficult to know what to say, or whether to say anything at all. You may notice isolation, sudden behavior changes, secrecy, anxiety around texting, or a partner who seems controlling or unpredictable. But approaching the conversation can feel intimidating. You don’t want to overstep, push too hard, or lose your friend’s trust.

Young adults today live in a world where relationships unfold across text messages, social media, apps, and shared locations. Technology connects us, but it can also create new pathways for control, manipulation, and harm. 

When someone you love goes missing, every moment becomes charged with fear, confusion, and urgency. You may feel pulled in a dozen directions at once — call everyone you know, search endlessly on social media, chase potential clues, or hold back out of fear of “doing the wrong thing.” It is one of the most emotionally overwhelming experiences a family can face.

Strangulation in domestic violence is a deadly warning sign that should never be ignored. It is not just an act of violence, it is an attempt to control, terrorize, and potentially kill.

Image credit: Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention

Read Tiffany’s story about how she found herself in an abusive relationship a second time. “Don’t just look for bruises. Look for uncharacteristic changes. Look for silence. For the girl who stopped dreaming. The one who used to call but suddenly doesn't. That’s your red flag.”

According to National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs),  over 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year. Fortunately, many missing children and adults are quickly found, alive and well. However, tens of thousands of individuals remain missing for more than one year – what many agencies consider “cold cases”.

Your computer and phone activity can be monitored without your knowledge, and browsing history is never fully erased. Emails can be intercepted, GPS trackers hidden in personal items, and court records may expose private information online.

Essentially, Gabby freed me from blaming myself for the abuse I have received, demonstrated the reality of what it means to be a victim (which took away the shame), and came to represent a triumph over abuse.

How does a mother sum up her child’s life? It is impossible to put it completely on paper or into words.

Do you ever wonder if you or someone you love is the victim of domestic violence?