Seven red flags your teen might be in an abusive relationship – and six signs it's escalating

Australian teens need adults to help them recognise red flags for potentially abusive relationships. 'I hadn't experienced a proper relationship before' Limited relationship experience can prevent young people identifying red flags for intimate partner violence. 7 red flags that can happen early Young people identified red flags in their past intimate relationships and described how difficult it was to see them in the moment. Here are some examples of red flags for teen intimate relationships that can begin a pattern of violence and abuse: being together all the time, using technology to monitor location when not together and a sense of always "being on call" sharing passwords to social media accounts or devices turning up unannounced or "as a surprise" saying "I love you" very early in the relationship, talking about living together or having children. 6 red flags that suggest escalation Increasingly problematic behaviours include: framing the relationship as unique or fated, such as saying the partner is the only person who truly understands them and nobody else could ever "love you like I do" isolating a partner by making it difficult for them to spend time with others assuming sexual activity will happen because "they are in a relationship" framing feelings of jealousy as evidence of love "suggesting" how they should dress or look or encouraging exercise or diet changes insults passed off as "just a joke".