In the first episode of the HBO hit series, Euphoria, Rue Bennett proclaims that “unless you’re Amish, nudes are the currency of love.” It feels like everyone is taking and sharing nudes. In fact, a Statista survey in the US conducted between 2000 and 2023 found that nearly 77% of respondents aged 19 and older had sent a sext.
Sexting can be fun and healthy in a safe space, but it has raised several questions surrounding privacy and safety. It even triggered a new legal and ethical issue: revenge porn.
We surveyed nearly 1,000 people across the US, France, Germany, and Spain to learn about their sexting habits and views on digital intimacy. We also looked at what you can do to protect your NSFW photos, and the steps you should take if you’ve become a victim of revenge porn.
Sext Education
Before we explored sexting culture, we first wanted to establish that our respondents were familiar with the term “sexting.” The results were unsurprising: almost 95% of our respondents in the US said yes.
Sexting – sending sexually explicit messages, usually by smartphone – isn’t usually a cause for concern when done between consenting adults. However, a study by JAMA Pediatrics in 2021 found that sexting has become more common among adolescents in the US, with at least one in four teens receiving sexually explicit messages and emails. The study also found that one in seven adolescents are sending sexts.
While most of our US-based respondents had heard of sexting, the results were more varied when we asked what they would define as sexting. Approximately 86% of our respondents felt sexting mainly involved sending explicit text messages. Nearly 79% also classified sending sexually explicit images and videos as sexting.
Sext and the City: The Risks Associated with Sexting
Digging deeper, we asked if it’s considered sexting if only one party sends sexually explicit messages. 60% of our respondents felt it was still considered sexting, while 20% felt it was only considered sexting if the recipient was into it and nearly 20% felt both parties needed to be involved for it to be considered sexting.
In our anonymous survey, we also asked our respondents if they’d ever sexted. The results were nearly split, with almost 48% saying they have.
Navigating the legal landscape of sexting can be complex as the laws vary by country – and even by state in the US. As of March 2023, laws regarding sexting hadn’t been fully implemented in all 50 US states. In general, sexting and sex aren’t illegal if they involve two consenting adults who are at least 18 years of age.
While the production, possession, or distribution of sexually explicit content featuring individuals under 18 is considered child pornography in the US and can lead to severe criminal charges, some states don’t yet have laws specific to underage sexting. These states rely on existing statutes when dealing with issues around sexting among teenagers, leading to complications when two minors sext each other or share images of themselves.
Revenge Porn and the Harsh Reality of Digital Betrayal
Our survey found that the majority of respondents in the US have heard the term “revenge porn,” the sharing of private sexual materials without consent and to cause harm.
According to law firm McAllister Olivarius, while most states criminalize revenge porn, they might not give victims the right to file for a civil suit and claim monetary damages. This means that while perpetrators could be jailed, victims aren’t entitled to compensation for any emotional distress or financial loss as a result of having their intimate photos or videos shared.
We also wanted to find out if our respondents knew that revenge porn is illegal. Interestingly, the result was almost split. Nearly 46% of respondents said “No” while almost 54% said “Yes.” These figures make sense when you consider that revenge porn laws in America only came to fruition about two years ago.
Understanding the Motivations behind Revenge Porn
Our findings show that while most people we surveyed have heard of revenge porn, their understanding of it varies. 70% would classify revenge porn as a former partner sharing explicit media content and screenshots. Almost 60% feel that a perpetrator doesn’t have to be in a relationship with the victim for distributed content to be considered revenge porn.
As the name suggests, revenge porn is often rooted in a desire to inflict emotional harm or embarrassment on the victim. In our survey, we asked people in the US why they think someone would share revenge porn. Nearly 80% of those who responded cited anger as the main reason, while almost 26% felt perpetrators did it because they thought it was fun.
In 2020, Durham University ran a study to understand the psychology behind non-consensual porn. It found that perpetrators can be motivated by amusement, sexual gratification, and the chance to cause distress through humiliation and revenge.
Aggressors might be former intimate partners seeking retaliation after a relationship has ended, or individuals attempting to exert dominance and control over a victim. Some perpetrators might also seek financial gain from distributing these materials.
The Rise of Deepfake Revenge Porn
Advancements in AI technology have paved the way for deepfakes, a term combining “deep learning” and “fake.” Deepfakes are digitally manipulated images where one person’s appearance is swapped with another’s. While they are often used for entertainment, they can also be used for non-consensual, sex-based attacks.
A study from Deeptrace, an Amsterdam-based cybersecurity company, found that deepfake pornography is the most common type of deepfake produced and distributed online. The study estimates that 95% of all deepfakes involve individuals who never consented to being used in this kind of content creation, with women making up 90% of these cases.
Deepfake software allows users to create pornography by imposing the victim’s face on another person’s body in an explicit image or video. Although most of these platforms are taken down within a few months of launch after mass reporting by activists, they can cause significant harm during their short lifespan.
The Effects of Revenge Porn on Victims
Psychological Impact
The emotional and psychological consequences of revenge porn can devastate victims. Public humiliation can lead to feelings of shame, self-blame, and embarrassment, often causing social withdrawal and isolation.
The sense of violation and betrayal can lead to many mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are commonly reported among victims, triggered by unwanted exposure and the fear of further harm.
In a study, the National Library of Medicine found that victims of revenge porn reported stress levels consistent with a depression or anxiety diagnosis. In extreme cases, victims’ overwhelming emotions can also lead to self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Reputational Damage
There’s nothing wrong with taking nude photos or videos, but if they’re shared online or distributed to family, friends, coworkers, or employers without consent, they could wreak havoc on a victim’s personal and professional life.
Given that it’s extremely difficult – or virtually impossible – to completely remove revenge porn from the internet, it can continue to damage its victim’s reputation for a long time, putting future opportunities at risk.
Extortion and Blackmail
Sextortion is a malicious practice where an offender threatens to disseminate sexually explicit images or videos of the victim unless they comply with their demands. These demands typically include paying a significant amount or carrying out a particular action.
Most recently, the police force in St. Petersburg, Florida, warned people about an alarming increase in online sextortion cases. The department claims that the number of cases investigated has more than doubled in the past year, and that victims often meet perpetrators through dating apps. After messaging and sending private intimate photos, the perpetrator tells the victim they’ll post the images online unless they’ve been paid not to.
What to Do If You’ve Become a Victim of Revenge Porn
Fewer than 30% of respondents claim to know what to do if they become the victim of revenge porn. The risks associated with sexting underscore the need for strong digital literacy, preventive measures, and responsible behavior when sexting.
Every text, image, or video shared online is sent through a web of servers and cloud storage systems. Unfortunately, anything hosted or stored online could be susceptible to hacking, unauthorized access, or non-consensual sharing. Once content has been shared, removing it is extremely difficult: there’s no way to track where files have been sent or who has shared them. Revenge porn is often distributed anonymously, making it almost impossible to identify the culprit.
The risk of non-consensual sharing is present even within trusting relationships. Personal disagreements, breakups, or malicious intent could trigger the distribution of intimate images or messages in “revenge,” often with devastating consequences for the victim.
Sharing explicit content without consent reflects the perpetrator’s desire for harm and control, and is not a commentary on the victim’s behavior or character. If explicit content featuring you is shared without your consent, even if you initially agreed to its creation, it’s crucial to respond quickly. Here’s what you should do:
Collect Evidence
Capture screenshots of the sites or platforms hosting your private content. Keep records of original and/or deepfake images, your takedown requests, and any communication with the alleged perpetrator to build a future case.
Request Removal
Reach out directly to the site hosting your content and demand its removal. While social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter aren’t liable for user-generated content, they do not permit non-consensual porn.
Report your content on these platforms and get it blocked, and request that images are removed from search results in search engines like Google and Bing.
Know Your Rights
Research local laws concerning revenge porn, defamation, copyright infringement, and privacy invasion. In the US, the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative offers an overview of revenge porn laws by state, including information on sextortion and deepfakes.
Engage Law Enforcement
Contact local law enforcement to report the crime that’s been committed against you.
Consider Hiring a Lawyer
An experienced attorney will guide you through the complexities of the legal process, giving you the best chance of having your content removed and your abuser held accountable. They’ll help you file the necessary reports, seek court orders to remove non-consensual content, and pursue criminal charges or civil lawsuits against the perpetrator.
Seek Emotional Support
Being the victim of revenge porn can be traumatizing. Don’t be afraid to seek emotional support if you need it by contacting crisis helplines or therapists specializing in sexual trauma. In the US, the CCRI offers a 24-hour crisis hotline. It also has a directory of country-specific resources for victims outside the US.
How to Prevent Your Photos from Being Shared Online
Almost 50% of respondents said “Yes” when we asked whether their awareness of revenge porn and other malicious activities had made them more aware of their online privacy.
Here are some things you can do to make yourself more difficult to identify in images and harder to locate offline, and to prevent your intimate content from ending up in the wrong hands.
Avoid Identifiable Features
Excluding your face and unique characteristics like tattoos or birthmarks will make it harder to identify you. If you’re taking a selfie against a mirror, keep identifiable items like your phone case, watch strap, or jewelry out of the frame.
Obscure Your Surroundings
Avoid capturing identifiable locations in your explicit photos to prevent location tracking. Keep your home decor out of photos or videos where possible, especially if you frequently share your home on social media.
Disable Location Services
Photo and video files carry metadata, including your location. Turning off this feature can help ensure you’re not inadvertently sharing your location if you send a photo or video. You’ll also want to ensure you’re not accidentally capturing a Live Photo where you might accidentally reveal your face.
Switch Off Auto-Syncing
Disable automatic syncing to the cloud unless you trust your cloud service completely. Instead, consider storing them natively on your device.
Use Secure Platforms
Only share photos through secure, encrypted messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. Some features can provide additional security, like the self-destruct timer on Telegram and WhatsApp, or screenshot notifications on Snapchat.
Use a VPN
The Future of Sexting and Revenge Porn Laws
The future of sexting and revenge porn laws is entirely speculative, and it’s unclear what the future might hold. Continued advances in technology are likely to lead to new ways for people to exploit others through revenge porn. As such, lawmakers must keep pace with these changes to effectively protect victims.
As of April 2023, 48 US states had passed laws that criminalize revenge porn and prohibit the non-consensual distribution of photos and videos of someone to hurt them. Just two states – Massachusetts and South Carolina – are yet to introduce legislation.
With deepfake porn on the rise, new laws must be created to fill the gap and provide legal recourse for people. Only a handful of states have enacted deepfake laws, while several others have proposed laws that are waiting for approval.
In the UK, sharing private sexual content without consent, both online and offline, is a criminal offense that can result in up to two years in prison. Future legislation in England and Wales might criminalize the distribution of non-consensual pornographic deepfakes. Privacy laws protecting against revenge porn exist in many European countries, Canada, New Zealand, and parts of Australia.
In contrast, laws against revenge porn in Asia and Africa have slowly developed more slowly. Comprehensive laws targeting such behavior currently only exist in a few countries, including the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Israel, and South Africa.
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