February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

It's a topic that is most often unreported - concerning for DeWitt County DOVE's Jennifer Tolladay who told Regional Radio on the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday like domestic violence with adults, teen dating violence often starts slow and subtle.

With social media being such a large part of the social lives of the 2022 teenager, Tolladay says an abuser will its victim to give them the information for their social media accounts and keep track of everything they do.

Tolladay admits it can be difficult to spot the signs of a teen in an abusive relationship but she says there are things to keep an eye out for. If a person's interests suddenly change or certain behaviors begin to change, those can be signs of someone in an abusive relationship.

Tolladay also mentions an individual will say sorry for very small, insignificant things and apologize a lot if they are in an abusive relationship. She says victims will often beat themselves up over small mistakes.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, you can contact DOVE at 217-935-6619 or the DOVE 24/7 hotline is 217-935-6072.