Building Resilience through DigitalSmarts

Methods, Outcomes and Lessons Learned from Developing and Delivering a Trauma- and Violence-Informed Digital Media Literacy Program.

Technology-facilitated violence and abuse (TFVA) is an increasingly common form of harm experienced by survivors of gender-based violence. Digital technologies can be used to monitor, harass, threaten and control victims, extending abuse beyond physical spaces into survivors’ online lives.

Building Resilience Through DigitalSmarts shares the findings from MediaSmarts’ four-year intervention research project: Moving On: Digital Empowerment and Literacy Skills for Survivors (MODELSS), supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The project explored how digital media literacy education can help survivors build the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to navigate online spaces safely and participate fully in today’s digital world.

Working with shelters and transitional housing organizations across Canada, MediaSmarts collaborated with practitioners and survivors to design, implement and evaluate the Resilience through DigitalSmarts program, a trauma- and violence-informed digital media literacy intervention for survivors of technology-facilitated violence.

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This report presents the methods, outcomes and lessons learned from developing and delivering the Resilience through DigitalSmarts program.

The report is structured around the four phases of the project:

  • Adaptation: Needs assessment research and program development
  • Implementation: Training and program delivery
  • Evaluation: Mixed-methods program evaluation with survivors and practitioners
  • Knowledge Mobilization: Share and exchange evidence-based practices

Each section includes the approaches, methods, outcomes and lessons learned at each stage. It highlights key findings from the evaluation of the Resilience through DigitalSmarts program and concludes with reflections on what works well in trauma-informed digital media literacy interventions, as well as strategic priorities for addressing tech-facilitated violence at individual, interpersonal, community and systems levels.

Key Findings and Recommendations

Findings from the evaluation of the Resilience through DigitalSmarts program highlight how trauma- and violence-informed digital media literacy education can support survivors of technology-facilitated violence and abuse while strengthening the capacity of practitioners who work with them.

The program demonstrated strong outcomes for participants and service providers.

Key Impacts include:

  • 98% of survivors reported increased digital media literacy knowledge and skills
  • 92% of survivors reported positive behaviour changes, including greater confidence and stronger online safety practices
  • 95% of survivors reported improved wellbeing
  • 70% of practitioners reported changes to organizational programming or policy, including integrating additional digital safety planning into their services

These results show that digital media literacy education can play an important role in helping survivors navigate digital environments safely while strengthening community responses to technology-facilitated violence.

What Works Well in Trauma-Informed Digital Media Literacy Interventions

Evaluation findings highlight several elements that support effective learning and engagement for survivors and practitioners. Successful interventions combine:

  • Trauma- and violence-informed facilitation that prioritizes safety, trust and survivor autonomy
  • Accessible and practical learning materials using plain language and flexible formats
  • Interactive, relationship-based workshops that foster supportive and collaborative learning environments
  • Flexible program design that allows facilitators to adapt sessions to participants’ needs and contexts
  • Ongoing evaluation and feedback to strengthen resources and delivery over time

Together, these elements help create learning environments where survivors feel supported in building digital safety skills and confidence online.

Infographic: What Works Well in Trauma-Informed Digital Media Literacy Interventions

A visual summary of key practices for designing and delivering trauma- and violence-informed digital media literacy programs.

Strategic Priorities for Coordinated Action

Technology-facilitated violence continues to evolve alongside digital platforms, artificial intelligence and connected devices. Addressing these harms requires sustained and coordinated action across sectors. Drawing on lessons from the MODELSS project, the report identifies several priorities for strengthening responses to tech-facilitated violence:

  • Invest in long-term, applied research to expand evidence-based approaches to trauma- and violence-informed digital media literacy interventions
  • Embed adaptability in program design so resources can evolve alongside emerging technologies and forms of online harm
  • Sustain and scale effective programs to ensure survivors and practitioners have ongoing access to digital literacy education
  • Strengthen national and provincial/territorial cross-sector collaboration among researchers, policymakers, service providers, and industry stakeholders
  • Provide structural support for capacity building in the service delivery sector, enabling organizations and practitioners to integrate online safety into their work with survivors
  • Center equity, cultural safety and reconciliation, ensuring programs reflect the diverse experiences, needs and contexts of survivors

Together, these priorities highlight the need for coordinated responses to tech-facilitated violence at individual, interpersonal, community, and systems levels.

Infographic: Strategic Priorities for Coordinated Action

A visual overview of the key priorities needed to strengthen prevention and response efforts addressing technology-facilitated violence.

 

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