February was Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and local domestic violence advocates are imploring parents to believe their kids when they come to you with heavy information.

Jennifer Tolladay with DeWitt County DOVE on the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday told Regional Radio over 80 percent of parents do not believe teen dating violence is an issue.

According to Andrea Kocher at Piatt County DOVE, parents can often live in a bubble because they don't see the dating violence taking place and she notes, sometimes teens not telling their parents about their situation are also keeping it from their friends.

Tolladay indicates Social media is becoming a huge driver of teen dating violence because it gives the abuser access to so many aspects of the victims' life. Kocher notes with the increase in social media use among teens, stalking is becoming a real issue.

Kocher and Tolladay stress for parents to believe their kids if they bring heavy information of abuse in their relationship or a friend's relationship. They indicate that sets the tone for how they approach you going forward.

Kocher stresses for parents to be involved in what their kids are doing online and monitor those things. While there is a fine line between monitoring and invading privacy, it is your job to protect your kids. She also implores parents whose children come forward to them to be on the side of the kids and let them know they will work together.