Teenagers and parents in Orange County got the opportunity to learn about teen dating violence Saturday at an event at Evans High School.
Teen dating violence is an evolving problem made worse by the use of technology to bully, intimidate, threaten or stalk.
Participating teens performed skits, danced and talked about the problem at the fourth annual #iStand2015Summit.
Krizia Gonzalez was at the summit with Harbor House. She wants others to know you can get out of a violent relationship. She was physically abused before she escaped her relationship, but she said there were signs leading up to the physical abuse.
"Like power and control over you," Gonzalez said. "They start either getting too private or they start ignoring you or they manipulate you."
Violence in teen dating isn't a rare problem, either.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department reports about 10 percent of Florida teens have experienced some kind of sexual or physical violence from their boyfriend or girlfriend.
The teens who participated in Saturday's summit, like Victor Rios, also learned how to spot someone who might be in a violent relationship.
"When somebody is being abused or is in an abusive relationship, you'll see their personality or characteristics change a bit," Rios said. "So, you see them differently — maybe you see them down and stuff. They're not the same person they used to be."
Teen dating violence isn't the same nowadays, either.
Technology has added a new dimension to the depth of the abuse — from threats to hurtful posts to possessiveness.
Yelitza Zamora works for Harbor House.
"A lot of the abuse happens through text messages, it happens through social media," Zamora said.
There are other forms of teen dating violence, including financial abuse.
Check out the links along the right side of the page for more information on teen dating violence.