Child and youth care workers' and counsellors’ experiences with technology-facilitated gender-based violence

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is an emerging concern in children’s care facilities, impacting both vulnerable young people and the professionals who support them. This study examines the lived experiences of Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCWs) and counsellors, with or without experience of TFGBV in their professional roles, and how these experiences affect their well-being and practice. A qualitative design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with six CYCWs and four counsellors. Data were transcribed, thematically analysed, and interpreted through the lens of Intersectionality Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, which situates TFGBV within overlapping identities and systemic inequalities. This framework highlights how gender, age, culture, and professional role intersect to shape both the vulnerability and the challenges faced by CYCWs and counsellors. By foregrounding these intersecting dimensions, the study demonstrates that TFGBV is not experienced uniformly but is compounded by multiple layers of disadvantage, thereby influencing care practices and professionals’ resilience in complex ways. Findings revealed that CYCWs and counsellors are vulnerable to online harassment, cyberbullying, and gendered abuse through digital platforms, often linked to their professional identity and gender. These experiences contributed to emotional fatigue, reduced job satisfaction, and challenges in maintaining therapeutic relationships with foster children. In addition, the study highlighted coping strategies such as peer support, collaboration with facility leadership, and advocacy for stronger digital safeguarding policies. The study highlights the need for gender-sensitive, technology-focused interventions to protect CYCWs and counsellors and strengthen the provision of care.