Preventing Gender-Based Violence Online Through Sexual Education and Digital Literacy

A new study entitled “Gender-Based Cyberviolence Prevention in European Secondary Education: A Scoping Review on the Intersection Between Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Digital Literacy” has been published in the Journal of School Health. The research was conducted by Valeria Piras (CNR-ITD) and Arpita Chakraborty (Dublin City University).

The study examines the role of education in preventing gender-based cyberviolence among adolescents by exploring the intersection between Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and Digital Literacy (DL) in European secondary schools. The scoping review reveals a highly fragmented research landscape: sexuality education and digital literacy are often addressed separately, while the prevention of gender-based forms of online violence remains only marginally represented in both research and educational practice. Young people’s own perspectives are also largely absent from the existing literature.

The study therefore highlights the need for more integrated educational approaches connecting digital competencies with consent, relationships, power dynamics and gender, supporting the development of safer, more inclusive and critically aware digital educational environments.