Tonight BBC Three will air a documentary with Love Island star Zara McDermott on Revenge Porn. The documentary will look at the impact of revenge porn and sharing of explicit images which happen to Zara first when she was at school and again when she appeared on Love Island.
Danielle Vincent, Senior Associate from the Abuse Team comments today:
As lawyers, we’re seeing more intimate images being shared on social media platforms or message exchanging services without consent. There has also been a huge increase in threats of blackmail associated with sharing images as a form of coercion and control of a victim. The reports of image-based abuse are increasing. What’s worrying is that, with ever increasing technology use, children at younger and younger ages are being exposed. The risk of images being passed around school friends, or wider, on the internet becomes ever greater. We’ve seen many celebrities suffer the same abuse with leaked images.
The impact to a victim can be life changing in all aspects of their lives and incredibly isolating. It may be the hardest thing they have ever faced and they will feel unable to reach out to love ones, or to authorities, due to the stigma or embarrassment they may feel. This may result in mental health difficulties and problems forming trusting relationships. It’s important that we continue to raise awareness of the criminal sanctions an individual can face for sharing such images. Public perception must change. Further awareness needs to continue to be raised to ensure individuals, parents and education authorities continue to recognise the risks and support victims.
Threats to share intimate images are most prevalent amongst young people (aged 18-34), with 1 in 7 young women experiencing such threats.
Such threats have significant impact on mental health and social wellbeing and will act as a way of control. Of those impacted, 1 in 7 confirmed they felt risk of physical abuse and 1 in 10 felt suicidal.
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