Follow OVW on Social Media: What It Means for Domestic Violence Survivors Seeking Help

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is encouraging people to follow it on social media. OVW is a U.S. Department of Justice office that shares information about domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and related services, grants, and policy updates.

This is not a direct emergency alert or a new benefit by itself. It is a communication update: OVW is asking the public to use its social channels to stay informed.

For people seeking help, official social media accounts can sometimes make it easier to:

• learn about new resources or funding announcements
• find public guidance in plain language
• stay updated on awareness campaigns and service changes
• see links to federal resources and survivor-support information

At the same time, social media is not always safe or private. If someone is monitoring your phone, accounts, or browsing history, following a government account may reveal that you are looking for help.

This update may matter to:

• survivors looking for current federal resources
• advocates and service providers sharing information with clients
• people trying to understand what OVW does
• anyone who wants to track policy or grant updates related to violence prevention

It may be less useful, or even risky, for people in an unsafe situation if using social media could expose their search for support.

• Visit the official OVW account only if you can do so privately.
• Use a device and account that are not monitored by the person harming you.
• Consider viewing updates without following the account if that is safer.
• Save important links in a secure place, such as a trusted email or a paper note kept away from others.
• Use the information to find official help lines, local programs, or legal resources.

• Do not follow or interact with the account if that could put you at risk.
• Use a safer device, a private browser window, or a trusted friend’s device only if that is appropriate and secure.
• Clear browsing history, search history, and app notifications if needed.
• If you share a phone plan, account, or device with the person harming you, assume activity may be visible.

If you need immediate support in the United States:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• Text: START to 88788
• Chat: thehotline.org

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Other possible supports:

• local domestic violence shelters and advocacy programs
• sexual assault crisis centers
• legal aid organizations
• hospital social workers or emergency department advocates
• trusted friends, family, clergy, or community advocates

If you are outside the U.S., contact your local emergency services or a local violence support organization.

• Social media can leave traces. Only use it if it is safe for your situation.
• A follow, like, or comment may be visible to others.
• If you are being monitored, consider using a safer device or asking an advocate to look up information for you.
• If you think your phone, email, or accounts may be compromised, change passwords only from a safe device and get help planning next steps.
• Your safety matters more than staying informed in real time.

This update only tells us that OVW is promoting its social media presence. It does not confirm any new emergency program, funding change, or survivor service.

Because the published date is unknown and the source is a social media profile, details may change quickly. For the most reliable information, check official OVW pages and trusted local service providers.

If you are looking for help, you do not have to use social media to get it. Official accounts can be useful, but your privacy and safety come first. If you want, a hotline advocate or local domestic violence program can help you find the same information in a safer way.