Exchanging explicit photos and videos is perfectly common and normal, especially among lovers or friends. A study done by Scientific American says that 50% of individuals in the US have explicit content on their phones, ranging from texts to videos and photos.
Revenge porn is the non-consensual distribution of an individual’s sexually explicit content online. This can be a devastating experience for anyone and can often lead to mental distress and a ruined reputation.
Do you worry that you could be a victim of revenge porn? Keep reading this article to find details on the steps to take if you become a victim and to stay protected against revenge porn.
What is Revenge Porn
Revenge porn is the sharing of sensitive, explicit content, which includes either videos or photos, of another individual without their consent.
The term “revenge” indicate the perpetrator has a revenge motive, such as a scorned ex. A stranger can also commit revenge porn by looking to exploit or just harm the individual.
Revenge porn sometimes goes hand in hand with doxing, the distribution of an individual’s personal information such as home address, contact info, and even employment records.
The ease of sharing photos and videos on the internet makes revenge porn a very pressing problem. A recent study reveals that revenge porn is most common among individuals within the ages of 16 to 26. The CCRI (Cyber Civil Rights Initiative) has stated that women are the biggest victims of this particular crime.
With men, the chances of their leaked photos or videos receiving any adverse reaction are quite low. People often praise those who ridicule women. And this is so unfortunate since women are most affected by revenge porn.
The victim-blaming makes it increasingly difficult to achieve justice, and it only adds to the victim’s psychological distress. Revenge porn will always be wrong, even if the distributor of the photos and videos had them consensually initially.
How Does Revenge Porn Collected?
The content related to revenge porn can be hacked or obtained with the consent. Here, the ex-lover is not the one distributing the content online; instead, it is a hacker or team of hackers. Individuals like these often make celebrities their primary target for money.
These hacks can take many forms. For example, they can install malware onto the victim’s devices. The hacker can also remotely access your home network, which includes security cameras and smart devices. Once they are in, they can wreak untold horrors and obtain sensitive content.
You can protect against these remote hacks by adding encryption and layers of protection to your Wifi network.
What Places Can One Find Revenge Porn Upon Leaking?
Revenge porn is often shared within numerous “expose groups” on social media and certain websites. Untraceable accounts share it, making it difficult to find out who distributed it.
Way back when Facebook had fewer regulations, revenge porn can be easily shared. But thankfully, those regulations are now tighter, and these criminals need to resort to platforms such as 4Chan and 8Chan on the dark web to share revenge porn anonymously.
The dark web is ultimately the most common endpoint for revenge porn since it is the one place where you can do anything with complete anonymity. It is unregulated, and law enforcement can genuinely keep track of its users.
How Widespread is the Practice of Revenge Porn?
To our dismay, we found out that revenge porn is even more common than most people think. A study in 2017 by the CCRI shows that:
- 12.5% of social media users in the US have been victims of revenge porn.
- 9 out of 10 of revenge porn victims are women.
- 5.7 in 10 of revenge porn victims report their attacker was an ex-lover.
Further research from the Data & Society Research Institute revealed that the most common group of women were of minority groups, including the LGBTQI+ groups respectively.
Revenge porn perpetrators, due to their anonymity, have rarely faced any consequences for their actions. Up until recently, there were no laws criminalizing the act of revenge porn.
Thankfully, many US states have created legislation to tackle cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Penalties for either include jail time or hefty fines.
What Causes People to Post Revenge Porn?
The question might seem odd, but there is a method to the madness. The motivation behind sharing revenge porn can look obvious at first; they want to hurt the victim, but this is just one of the possible reasons. Below are other possible reasons people share revenge porn:
- Increase in social standing: On those “expose groups,” there is a hierarchy, and depending on how many videos or photos you share, your rank increases within these “expose groups.”
- Anonymization: The mysterious cover of anonymity makes revenge porn easier, but it is also a driving factor. The fact that one could share it without getting caught creates a sense of power and impunity.
- Financial reward: Certain platforms pay uploaders for adult content without checking the legality of the content.
What are Some of the Adverse Consequences Revenge Porn Victims Face?
Anyone can be a victim of revenge porn at some point in their life, and having a sexual picture online will have devastating consequences. Unfortunately, there are many ways it can play out, and none of them are good for the victim, especially for women.
Cyberbullying
Individuals often distribute revenge porn within a group online, which then exposes the victim to an onslaught of cyberbullying. This can range from aggressive texts to rape and death threats.
And since the majority of women who end up as victims of revenge porn often belong to minority groups, the online harassment is constantly racist, misogynistic, and altogether bigoted.
Blackmail and Extortion
Most people commit revenge porn for the sake of making money through blackmail. The perpetrator demands “personal favours” or payment by threatening to leak the content online. This type of revenge porn, known as sextortion, often continues even after the payment of demanding money.
Physical Harm and Stalking
Revenge porn exposes the victim to potential physical harm. The victim no longer has a safe space once the content is leaked online or offline.
Research has shown that:
- 1 in 12 adults in the US has stated that, at some point, they’ve been revenge porn victims.
- According to Ruvalcaba & Eaton, 2020, 1 in 20 adults report the perpetuation of revenge porn.
- According to Uhl et al., 2018, 92% of young women have been targeted for revenge porn.
- Victims of revenge porn have a higher chance of developing psychological problems. (Ruvalcaba & Eaton, 2020).
It would be logical to summarize that victims of revenge porn suffer stalking, both physically and online.
Mental and Emotional Distress
Revenge porn can cause great distress to its victims, especially psychologically. Studies have shown that victims of revenge porn often experience similar symptoms as women who have suffered sexual abuse, including:
- Sleep disorders and nightmares
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Isolation
- Panic attacks
The CCRI also states that 51% of the victims of revenge porn harbour suicidal thoughts. An overwhelming feeling of shame, sadness, and powerlessness often brings the thoughts. Everyone blames the victim instead of supporting them; it does so much damage to the mental health of the victims.
Ruined Social Reputation
Engaging in consensual sexual activity is common these days, even online. But as a result of social victim blaming, women affected by revenge porn suffer severe reputation loss.
People find it difficult to completely erase the photos or videos once they are shared on the internet. As a result, the victim has to live with the thought that at any given moment, their family, classmates, friends, colleagues, and bosses could watch them. You can see how this would hurt someone’s life and career.
Any person who has suffered revenge porn, remember that it is not your fault, and no individual possesses the right to distribute your explicit content without your consent.
You should not be upset with protecting yourself online and held accountable for someone else’s abusive actions.
Are Deep Fakes the New Frontier for Revenge Porn?
Deepfake technology lets you digitally superimpose someone else’s face onto another body. So, even if you have not taken or sent explicit content, someone can manipulate your image and use it in this content.
The worrying rise of Deepfake porn use is directly linked to nonconsensual porn. A whopping 95% of deepfake content is deep-fake revenge porn, and of course, the victims are largely women.
2019 saw the rise of the use of women’s clothing digitally. The use of this app would only increase with the lockdown of 2020. However, authorities took action, and some deepfake apps have been forced to shut down, but the situation is more complex.
Deepfake technology should have more positive applications, but it is, unfortunately, a reflection of humanity’s desperate need to hate women. Deepfake porn creates an increase in violent behaviour towards women, and even though the content is false, the effect can be the same.
Steps to Take If You’ve Suffered Revenge Porn
So, you have just been the target of revenge porn; you must remember firstly that this is not your fault. It does not matter if you shared the content with a lover or friend who leaked it; the blame is on them and not you.
You can take the following steps when you experience revenge porn; keep reading.
Keep Records of Everything
It would be best to keep evidence of the explicit content and the platforms record where it is shared. You will need this evidence to build a legal case against the perpetrators. You can store these records using a private email or encrypted cloud account.
Understand Your Rights
Revenge porn is a criminal offence in 48 US states, including Washington D.C. and two others. So you can rest assured that some laws can help you get the justice you deserve.
You can check for the legislation about your state/location on the CCRI homepage. All you need to do is visit the website and click on your state, and you can see its stance on revenge porn. There is also a section for sextortion and deepfake porn.
Once you understand the legal stance in your state, contact law enforcement, which can be a lawyer or the police. Remember that:
- You legally demand the deletion of your personal images or videos
- You possess the right to make the perpetrator pay for their crimes through civil or criminal action.
Legislation
You need to stay up-to-date with the different legislation regarding revenge porn. Depending on the state legislation, below are some of the forms of lawsuits that could be filed regarding revenge porn:
- Defamation: If the leaking of sensitive photos or videos has affected your life and caused any damage to your reputation, you can file for defamation. The damages to seek compensation include healthcare costs, emotional harm, and financial loss.
- Copyright infringement: If the photo leaked is a selfie, you can claim it based on copyright law. Thus, if you have proof of ownership of the photo or video possession, you own the copyright to remove the content.
Erasing the Content
If you wish to get the photos and videos removed, you can do so by filing a takedown request to the host platform. Below is how to do so:
Understand the Policies of the Platform
It is important to note that social media platforms can not be held accountable for user-generated content. But, in their defence, they will make efforts to censor any images meant to be revenge porn.
Below are the core policies for different platforms regarding such cases:
- Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, Reddit, Yahoo, and Twitter do not permit revenge porn.
- Google Drive and YouTube prohibit sensitive or explicit content.
- Users have the option to flag inappropriate apps with Google Play.
- Microsoft deletes revenge porn from their Xbox, OneDrive, and other affiliated services.
Request Removal
Here’s how to request removal on search engines: you’d need to fill out a form that erases the content from search options.
Remember that removing content from search results does not delete the content itself. Here’s how you can delete content from social media platforms:
For Instagram:
- Tap the “…” icon on a profile or post
- Tap “Report/Report for Spam”
- Tap the “It’s inappropriate” option
For Facebook:
- Select the image or video you wish to remove
- Click the “Options” icon in the right bottom corner
- Click “Report Photo/Video.”
Steps to remove it from Reddit:
- Select the link for “Comments” below the post
- Select “Report”
- Choose “Involuntary pornography” in the reason for your report
- Select “Submit”
Reddit also has an email contact to which you can send removal requests along with the URL; send the request to contact@reddit.com.
You can also use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act(DMCA) removal service if you find your images or videos on platforms other than those mentioned above. The process will cost you around $199 for each removal request and requires you to complete a form. If you wish to use a free service, ensure they are verified and legitimate.
Additionally, you can request removal if your photos or videos are shared on pornographic websites. Pornhub, for example, has a form for this very purpose.
Important Resources
The best resource for you against revenge porn or the resultant consequences is the Cyber Civil Right Initiative(CCRI). They have a 24/7 crisis hotline ready to offer prompt support.
You can find additional support at the following places:
- Right To Be (online harassment)
- Revenge Porn Helpline (UK)
- CCRI’s list of international resources per country
You can also use the National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 if you are concerned about your safety or that of a loved one.
Child Pornography
The legally defined age for pornography varies depending on your location, ranging from 16+ to 18+. If you are under the legal age for pornography and someone distributes revenge porn against you, it is considered as child pornography.
In this case, you must contact your guardian, parent, or an adult you can trust. When you fill out the removal request, add your age and demand the content be removed immediately.
It is also advisable to inform law enforcement. Before going to the authorities, it is important to be surrounded by people who can support you.
How to Prevent Revenge Porn
Being a victim of revenge porn can be truly horrifying. And with the advent of deepfake porn, you can even be a victim without owning or sharing any explicit content.
Remember that owning or sharing explicit images or videos is legal if done consensually. The best way to prevent revenge porn is by not sharing any explicit content with others.
Unfortunately, this approach blames the victim. Women should not be restricted to online access due to male harassment. Those who abuse or blackmail others should face the consequences. But it might be a good practice to avoid sending anything you wouldn’t want to be leaked.
Below are some other practices you can employ as well:
Don’t Allow Anyone to Record or Take a Photo of You Without Your Consent
This is a non-negotiable, even if the person is your partner. Do not let anyone take explicit photos or videos of you; ask them to delete it if anyone does, and make sure they do.
Hide Your Identity in Intimate Photos
Avoid sharing your face nude selfies or videos. This way, if any content gets leaked, you are less likely to be recognized by family or friends. You can further ensure the background is blurred to avoid revealing your location.
Disable Geo-tagging on All Devices
Turn off this geo-tagging feature, which can greatly reduce the chance of identifying your location. You can take a screenshot of the image you wish to post instead of posting it directly; this will erase any location data. For OnlyFans creators, this last piece of advice is very important.
Update Your Privacy Settings on Social Media
Your social media accounts are not as private as you think. It wouldn’t take too long for anyone to extract content from your private accounts, even the deleted ones. For this reason, you should optimize your social media privacy settings to stay private.
Keep Your Kids Informed
Lastly, it would be best if you educated your kids on sexting, the dangers it comes with, and how to protect themselves. It would be best if you did not intrude on their privacy. Instead, guide them on how to safely share sensitive or sexual photos of themselves and educate them on the potential risks involved.
How to Protect Yourself Online
If you still store any explicit content on your devices, here are a few ways to secure them:
- Use of VPN: A VPN will encrypt your connection whenever you use the web. It ensures you stay anonymous from hackers and snoopers. What’s more, it keeps you secure and private.
- Use an antivirus: Hackers obtain revenge porn content through malware attacks. So, it would be wise to protect against malware attacks. These are the common means hackers would obtain sensitive photos and videos from unsuspecting victims. A good antivirus protects against malware and blocks any phishing links.
- Use a password manager: A password manager uses top-notch encryption to keep your login details safe from snoopers, making accessing your social media accounts difficult.
- Guide your kids to safe internet practices: Ensure they know how to use social media safely and teach them ways to avoid compromising situations.
Final word
Revenge porn is a deadly practice that has gained unfortunate popularity in recent times and continues to grow. It can happen to anyone, man or woman. But the stats show that women are mostly targeted, and this has to stop.
We expect less depravity as technology improves, but that is not the case. Take deepfake porn, for example, which has increased the cases of nonconsensual porn. Victims of revenge porn can seek justice and make their perpetrators pay, but this may not erase the emotional and psychological damage it has done.
FAQs
Revenge porn refers to the non-consensual distribution of sexual photos or videos of an individual. The perpetrators either do this as a way to harm the victim or extort them for money. While some of the revenge porn may be the product of deepfake porn.
Revenge porn is motivated by a flurry of factors such as control, vengeance, harassment, extortion, and misogyny. It could also be a result of propping up social standing among the revenge porn “exposed groups.” The more you post revenge porn, the more respected you become within the space.
Revenge porn is a crime in 48 states of the United States, with strict laws to punish offenders. It can, however, be difficult to prosecute if the distributor uses the dark web, as it is mostly anonymous.
