List All Projects   List Graduate Projects   List Senior Design Projects   List REU Projects   Other Undergraduate Projects

Project # 17
Technology-Facilitated Intimate Partner Abuse: Analyzing Trends, Tactics, and Victim Responses on Reddit

Team Lead: Solomon Dandekar
Other Team Members: Nowshin Tabassum
Faculty Advisor(s): Dr. Shirin Nilizadeh
Department: CSE
Project Type: Graduate Student
Title: Technology-Facilitated Intimate Partner Abuse: Analyzing Trends, Tactics, and Victim Responses on Reddit
Abstract: The increasing integration of technology into daily life has provided numerous benefits but also significant risks, particularly when exploited by malicious actors in cases of intimate partner abuse (IPA). Perpetrators can misuse technology to monitor, control and intimidate their partners, exacerbating cycles of abuse. From location tracking and cellphone surveillance to smart device manipulation, spyware and doxxing, digital tools have become powerful instruments for coercion and control. This research project investigates the role of technology in IPA by analyzing discussions on a relevant subreddit where victims share their experiences, strategies for coping and concerns. By examining posts spanning from 2014-2024, we aim to identify the evolving tactics employed by abusers, the technological tools most frequently misused and the responses of victims seeking support or intervention. The dataset consists of posts collected via API and an older data dump, with a subset manually labeled by two coders to capture key abuse patterns. Additionally, we employ LLMs such as GPT for automated labeling and feature extraction, using prompt engineering and chain-of-thought techniques to categorize abuse types, perpetrators and victim responses. This hybrid approach enables scalable analysis while maintaining accuracy through human verification. Our findings will inform digital safety strategies and intervention efforts.
Poster: View Poster #17 (PDF)
Judges Scoring: Submit Evaluation (judges only)