Although most Indonesian web surfers live in major cities, many of them in smaller regions utilize the internet for social causes, such as providing gender education and empowering women.

Nike Nadia is one user who believes the internet can support young women in dealing with relationship issues.

As a counselor with the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Nike noticed that the commission responded differently to married women, single women and teenagers when they came for consultation.

Read also: Victims of dating abuse find it hard to get help

“The commission caters more to married women who experience violence,” said Nike.

Some circles still consider violence against unmarried women less serious because they are considered to be single or in a no-strings relationship, supposedly making it easier for them to break away.

However, facts show that most unmarried women and teenage girls also find it hard to end relationships with abusive partners.

“Usually there is a problem of unjust power control in this context,” Nike said.

Single women’s lack of confidence makes them think the people they are dating are their only hope to not ending up being alone for the rest of their lives.

Read also: Let's talk about the pressure of getting married in your 20s

“They choose to stay in their abusive relationships because by having boyfriends, they feel they’re wanted,” Nike said.

Realizing the younger generation’s familiarity with the internet, Nike began to use the medium to give information about healthy dating and building a positive image for women.

In April 2016, Nike launched an online platform called HelpNona, offering a forum to young women with dating or personal image problems to share their feelings.

HelpNona also posts articles on self-development related to sound dating and a positive selfimage.

The articles were originally written by Nike herself, but her counseling experience has made her familiar with many sources.

“I have met a number of doctors, lawyers and psychologists who can serve as resource persons,” Nike, who is majoring in gender studies for her Master’s degree, said.

HelpNona has drawn the attention of visitors and volunteers as well as those seeking advice through a feature called AskNona.

Through the HelpNona platform, Nike has also organized workshops for personal image enhancement and healthy dating.

Nike utilizes the workshops to mentor women about the signs of abusive dating. For example, Nike said many women were unaware that abuse did not always come in the form of physical violence.

Read also: Why verbal harassment is more menacing than physical bullying

“Many people think that violence is only physical. However, verbal and psychological aggression actually have longer and graver effects,” Nike, a bachelor of law from Bandung’s Padjadjaran University, said.

Another common sign of an abusive relationship is when the partner starts to impose unreasonable restrictions, said Nike.

“Many believe that if their partners forbid them to do something, then it is an expression of love. But if the prohibition is without apparent reason and the female partners feel considerably restricted, they should be cautious,” Nike said.

Nike’s HelpNona platform has received huge support from Girl in Tech Indonesia, an initiative that encourages Indonesian women to be more active in technology.

Anantya van Bronckhorst, one of the founders of Girl in Tech Indonesia, said technology could help women in doing many things, but many of them were reluctant to be more active in a field that was traditionally regarded as a man’s domain.

“With the gradual entry of women in this field, other women will certainly be drawn into the technological world,” she said.

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