# Dating Platforms Must Prioritize Women's Safety or Risk Losing Users _99% of surveyed women faced tech-based abuse on dating apps. Platforms must improve safety measures or risk losing user trust and engagement._ Source: https://highintentmedia.com/news/women-report-abuse-dating-platforms-study Author: High Intent Newsroom Published: 2026-09-22T11:08:51+00:00 Last updated: 2026-09-22T11:55:32.101383+00:00 Category: Policy ## Summary A new Australian study found 99% of surveyed heterosexual women experienced tech-based abuse on dating apps weekly, with 19% feeling their complaints were not taken seriously. Operators must prioritize proactive safety measures, improved reporting, and offender prevention. Failing to address widespread psychological abuse and ineffective platform responses risks user trust and engagement, impacting business growth. ## Key takeaways - 99% of surveyed women faced tech-based abuse on dating apps in Australia. - Psychological and emotional abuse is the most common form experienced weekly. - 19% of women felt their abuse reports were barely or not taken seriously. - Platforms must implement proactive detection and stronger verification processes. - Relying on users for safety is insufficient; platforms need systemic changes. ## FAQ ### What percentage of women experience tech-based abuse on dating apps? 99% of 1,008 heterosexual women surveyed in an Australian study reported experiencing at least one form of tech-based abuse on dating platforms. This occurred within the previous three months, and on average, women experienced these behaviors once per week, indicating a widespread problem operators should address. ### What types of abuse are most common on dating platforms? Psychological and emotional abuse are the most common forms of tech-based abuse experienced by women on dating platforms. These include behaviors like love bombing, negging, gaslighting, persistent contact, and monitoring. More obvious incidents like catfishing and unwanted explicit images were reported less frequently than psychological abuse. ### How effective are dating platforms at addressing abuse reports? Platform responses to abuse reports are often seen as ineffective. 19% of women who reported harmful behavior felt their complaint was barely or not at all taken seriously by the platform. A quarter felt the platform's response did little to improve their safety, and 23% felt less confident afterward. ### What specific actions can dating platforms take to improve safety? Dating platforms should implement proactive detection systems to identify harmful behavior earlier. They must also make reporting processes easier for users and strengthen measures to stop offenders from simply creating new accounts after being reported. These changes require a shift towards prevention rather than just reaction. ### Why is addressing tech-based abuse important for dating businesses? Addressing tech-based abuse is crucial because its widespread prevalence and ineffective platform responses risk user trust and engagement. When users feel unsafe or their concerns are ignored, they may disengage, which can impact the platform's user base and overall growth. Safety is critical for user retention and business success. - 99% of 1,008 heterosexual women surveyed in Australia experienced at least one form of tech-based abuse on dating platforms in the previous three months - Women experienced abusive behaviours on average once per week, with psychological and emotional abuse being the most common - 19% of women who reported harmful behaviour felt their complaint was barely or not at all taken seriously by the platform - The study included behaviours beyond obvious abuse, such as love bombing, negging, gaslighting, persistent contact and monitoring A groundbreaking Australian study has revealed the alarming prevalence of tech-based abuse on dating platforms, with nearly all women surveyed reporting some form of harmful behaviour. The research, conducted by the Behavioural Insights Team and funded by the Minderoo Foundation, examined both obvious and subtle forms of abuse experienced by women. The findings highlight a critical gap between the frequency of abuse and the effectiveness of platform responses. ## Widespread Abuse Across Dating Platforms Almost every woman surveyed in a new Australian study had experienced some form of tech-based abuse on dating platforms. 99% of 1,008 heterosexual women surveyed said they had experienced at least one abusive behaviour in the previous three months. On average, women experienced these behaviours on a weekly basis. Woman looking at phone concerned about dating app abuse The research comes from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) and was funded by the Minderoo Foundation. Its new report, Understanding Tech-Based Abuse of Women on Dating Platforms, looks beyond obvious abuse such as threats, scams and unsolicited sexual images. It includes behaviours such as love bombing, negging, gaslighting, persistent contact and monitoring. The report is available for download and provides detailed insights into the scope and nature of the problem. The comprehensive approach to categorizing abuse helps reveal patterns that might otherwise remain hidden in standard reporting metrics. ## Psychological Abuse Dominates User Experiences Psychological and emotional abuse topped the list. Women often dealt with this type of behaviour by unmatching or avoiding the person rather than reporting it. More obvious incidents were reported more frequently, including catfishing (34%), unwanted explicit images (32%), threats (22%) and financial scams (22%). > The burden of staying safe still falls too heavily on women. Person experiencing stress while using dating applications The disparity between experiencing abuse and reporting it suggests that many women view certain harmful behaviours as inevitable aspects of online dating. This normalization of psychological abuse creates an environment where subtle manipulation and control tactics go largely unaddressed. The prevalence of these behaviours on a weekly basis indicates systemic issues rather than isolated incidents. ## Platform Responses Fall Short of User Needs Reporting did not always leave women feeling safer. Among those who reported harmful behaviour, 19% felt their complaint was barely or not at all taken seriously. A quarter said the platform's response did little or nothing to improve how safe they felt. 23% actually felt less confident after the platform's response. This troubling statistic suggests that the reporting process itself can become another source of distress for victims. When platforms fail to take complaints seriously or provide inadequate responses, they risk discouraging future reporting and enabling continued abuse. Dating app safety and user protection concept > Safety should be built into dating apps from the start, rather than leaving women to deal with the consequences. ## Recommendations for Systemic Change The report makes one thing clear. The burden of staying safe still falls too heavily on women. BIT recommends that platforms detect harmful behaviour earlier, make reporting easier and stop offenders from simply creating new accounts. These recommendations call for a fundamental shift in how dating platforms approach user safety. Proactive detection systems, streamlined reporting mechanisms, and stronger account verification processes could significantly reduce the prevalence of abuse. The emphasis on prevention rather than reaction represents a necessary evolution in platform design and accountability. ### Key Takeaways - Dating platforms must implement proactive detection systems to identify harmful behaviour before it escalates, rather than relying solely on user reports - Women should not bear the primary responsibility for their own safety on dating apps, and platforms need to strengthen verification processes to prevent repeat offenders from creating new accounts - Psychological and emotional abuse, while less obvious than threats or scams, is the most common form of tech-based abuse and requires greater recognition and response from platforms ## Sources - [download](https://www.bi.team/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Understanding-tech-based-abuse-of-women-on-dating-platforms.pdf), Bi Published by High Intent (High Intent Media Inc). Citation permitted with a link to the source URL above.