The Rape Education and Prevention Program (R.E.P.P.) hosted #TakeBacktheSwipe Oct. 26 in Campion Student Center. The event, created and led by Gabby Southworth ’19, provided advice about dating app safety, and shared experiences of people who experienced sexual violence through dating apps.
R.E.P.P. is a group that provides education about dating violence and supports those in the St. Joe’s community who have experienced dating violence.
“We educate our community on sexual violence, sexual assault, rape, domestic violence and stalking and make [people] aware that those are issues and that we support people that have been through it, or people that want to help people that have been through it,” said Madgee Pierre Louis ’24, a member of R.E.P.P.
The title of the event, #TakeBackTheSwipe, is a play on words of the national foundation, Take Back the Night, which aims “to end sexual violence in all forms, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, stalking, gender harassment and relationship violence, and to support survivors in their healing journeys,” according to their website.
Southworth said her experience of sexual violence through a dating app influenced her to be a part of R.E.P.P. and create the #TakeBackTheSwipe program specifically.
“I felt like the more I started sharing my story, the more I learned that other people are going through this too,” Southworth said. “So I feel it’s just a way to kind of break the stigma, break the silence and keep other people safe and just have conversations.”
Numerous anonymous survivor stories that Southworth was able to gather through the National Sexual Assault Hotline were shared during the presentation. Their advice on what people should look out for when using dating apps, when talking online and when meeting in person was also read.
Southworth said there are green and red flags that people should look for while dating online.
“I would say intensity is a really big [red flag],” Southworth said. “I think something unique about dating apps is that things can move pretty quickly, sometimes more quickly than if you met someone at a bar or in your class.”
Jude Hill ’25, an RA who attended the event, explained dating app violence is something more people need to become aware of as dating apps become more popular.
“I think it’s something that we definitely need to ask more questions about and learn more information about because it’s just a rapidly growing problem,” Hill said.
During the presentation, one statement was repeated over and over again by Southworth: “No matter what you did or didn’t do, it’s not your fault.”
“There’s only so many safety precautions you can take,” Southworth said.
Many survivors of dating app violence continue to use dating apps, including Southworth, and have had romantic success.
“I want to come out and say this conversation isn’t anti-dating apps. It’s just to raise awareness,” Southworth said. “I’m in the happiest, healthiest relationship I’ve been in with someone that I met on a dating app.”
