Systemic Responses to Online Abuse on Campus

Systems theory approaches are rarely applied in online safeguarding contexts. There is a growing concern that the role of online abuse in domestic abuse and harassment needs to be better understood among adult populations. Organisations who have a duty of care toward staff and other stakeholders should also consider how online abuse is tackled and how victims of abuse can be subsequently supported. While there are, arguably, increasing policy drivers for systems change within the Higher Education sector, we argue that this will change little for student bodies without wholesale institutional system change. Adopting a systems theory perspective, we aim to illustrate, with authentic student voice, what needs to change across Higher Education institutional responses to online sexual and domestic abuse, and how outcomes for victims can be improved when effective and supportive systems are in place.