What Is Revenge Porn? Psychological & Legal Ramifications

If you’ve ever shared intimate photos with someone, you likely did so from a place of trust. Our partners are supposed to be our most reliable confidantes, and exchanging pics when you’re feeling yourself isn’t a crime as long as you’re both consenting adults.

But your partner later distributing that content without your consent is a crime. Sexting has become a normal part of relationships, and a large percentage of relationship conversations happen over text or social media, so it makes sense, sadly, that revenge porn is common in modern society.

Its prevalence doesn’t diminish its emotional impacts. Below, I’ll dive into what exactly revenge porn is and how to take action if it happens to you. 

Revenge porn is the act of sharing sexually explicit images or videos without the subject’s consent, typically by an ex-partner. The intention behind distributing such material is to harm or embarrass the subject.

Examples of Revenge Porn

Revenge porn can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnic identity, or ability. For example, a female victim might have been recorded by her partner performing oral sex; the revenge porn would expose her face and identity.

A male victim who photographed their penis while masturbating also risks having that sensitive photo leaked through revenge porn. And a queer individual pictured in contact with another person faces the possibility of being outed through revenge porn. 

Note that the above are all only examples: any person can be captured in any position or context, though the material is usually either taken by the subject while sexting, or during sex by the person who will later become the distributor of the revenge porn.

Chrissy Chambers was the first person in the U.K. to seek damages and the criminal prosecution of a former partner for posting revenge porn on the internet. She describes “suffering constantly from nightmares and night terrors” after footage of her assault surfaced.

“I was blacked out and intoxicated by the time he pulled out his camera.” — Chrissy Chambers

Unfortunately, there are many stories like hers, and revenge porn continues to leave devastating impacts on its victims.

Emotional Damage

Public commentary on the pornographic material may lead the victim to initially experience shame and humiliation at being seen in such an intimate state, as well as depression from being subjected to insults.

And fear of how the material will continue to spread may lead to long-term anxiety. “I remember a friend alerting me that there were links with my full name posted all over the Internet, calling me a slut and a bad role model,” said Chambers.

Long-Term Effects

Having been betrayed by a romantic partner, the victim may have difficulty forming future relationships. They may feel hesitant to be intimate and potentially put themselves at risk again.

Outside of relationships, victims may also experience long-term disorders, including PTSD and substance abuse.

“I became an alcoholic by age 22, trying desperately to numb the pain… After waking up in the ER in December of 2013, I gave up drinking entirely. I finally sought the help of a trauma specific therapist. It took her no time at all to diagnose me with PTSD,” said Chambers. 

Social and Professional Consequences

The social consequences don’t stop with the ostracization and harassment from peers that Chambers experienced. Victims may fear damage to their career prospects, as a simple Google search for their name could turn up sensitive photos and tarnish their reputation. Some victims have reported losing their jobs or being expelled from their schools.

Despite legislative efforts and the attempts of major social media platforms to crack down on revenge porn, distribution is still a pressing issue. In 2019, a study revealed a 400% increase in the number of revenge porn victims from 2016. 

Laws Around Revenge Porn

The legal statuses and consequences for revenge porn vary around the world. In South Korea, for example, distribution is punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment or by a fine of up to 5 million South Korean won (equal to about $3,400). 

In Canada, the 2014 passage of the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act criminalized the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images. And in the UK, revenge porn was made a sexual offense in 2015 as part of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act, carrying a sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment. 

In March 2022 in the United States, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 marked the first passing of a federal law on the subject, allowing an individual to file a federal lawsuit against someone who disclosed intimate images without consent. 

As of October 2023, 48 states and Washington, D.C. have passed laws prohibiting the distribution or production of nonconsensual pornography. Only Massachusetts and South Carolina have no laws prohibiting it. 

Legal Challenges

In the U.S., several state laws contain provisions which make seeking justice even more difficult. Arkansas’ nonconsensual pornography statute, for example, only applies to the victim’s family, household members, or former or current romantic partners.

In Georgia, victims are not given a private right of action. In addition to these challenges, victims may also find that it is difficult to prove the perpetrator’s intent or even track them down, given the ability to post anonymously under a screen name on most social platforms. 

But victims do have rights, regardless of whether criminal charges can be pursued. They can always pursue civil claims. The key to successfully filing a lawsuit is to show the extent of the damage the sharing has had on the victim. 

Ethical Considerations

Sharing intimate content without approval is an extreme ethical violation. Given the nature of the material, the perpetrator essentially chooses to subject the pictured person to harassment and objectification.

The moral decision extends beyond the relationship, as the perpetrator opens up a vulnerable moment originally shared between two people for the world to see. 

Many popular websites and social media platforms act as hotbeds for revenge porn material. Oftentimes lacking the necessary policies to ensure strict monitoring, these companies end up enabling distribution. However, solutions are on the horizon.

Platforms as Enablers

Revenge porn can be shared anywhere, including on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms.

Reddit in particular has a notorious history of hosting revenge porn content. Before a leadership crackdown, the site was home to various subreddits where users could share explicit photos of exes and leave comments. 

“We know we have more work to do to prevent, detect, and action this content even more quickly and accurately.” — Reddit spokesperson

In 2015, the platform updated its privacy policy to prohibit posting nude content without the subject’s consent. In 2021, the site removed over 88,000 nonconsensual sex images from its forum.

Other tech companies have recognized their role in policing material. Meta now uses AI to “detect near-nude images or videos that are shared without permission on Facebook and Instagram” as well as photo-matching technology to keep revenge porn from being re-shared. 

Challenges for Social Media Companies

Though Meta’s efforts are commendable, it remains difficult for all social media platforms to monitor explicit content to the same extent. Without human input to detect actual intention, AI can mess up and leave content to slip through the cracks. 

For example, a user could impersonate someone and share their sensitive images, leading a platform to believe that the images were self-shared with consent.

Additionally, enacting overly harsh monitoring policies for harmful content moderation could lead users to feel that they’re unable to openly share content of their choosing. 

Rising Solutions

Snapchat is well-known for auto-deleting messages and notifying users when screenshots are taken. Now other messaging apps are following suit.

Instagram introduced a similar Vanish Mode for its Direct Messages in 2020, and daters can expect other platforms to adopt these features in the future.

Vanish mode lets people send each other disappearing messages, photos, videos and other content in Instagram chats. — Instagram

Social media companies also continue to update their privacy settings and reporting mechanisms. On Instagram, the provided list of reasons for reporting content has expanded greatly since the feature was first introduced. Today, its inclusion of nude images recognizes the prevalence of revenge porn. 

If this happens to you, know that you’re never alone. Below, you’ll find resources to help you take action against your abuser. And don’t forget to lean on the friends, family, and therapists in your life for support, too. 

1. Gather Evidence

First, take a deep breath and document as much evidence as you can. This can include screenshots of emails or text messages with the suspected perpetrator.

If the exchanges took place over a platform like Snapchat, which notifies the other party of screenshots, see if you can collect evidence by using a friend’s phone to photograph your screen. Any photo, video, or audio recording evidence you have of the perpetrator may be helpful too.

2. Take Action & Get Help

Begin by submitting a report to the platform on which the content was shared — if your photo was uploaded to Instagram, for example, report the photo, select “nudity or sexual activity” and then “threatening to share or sharing nude images.”

Then, start seeking assistance from a lawyer — a quick search for “revenge porn lawyer” in your area may yield a professional who specializes in these situations as well as broader cybercrime such as blackmail.

If you aren’t able to find a specialized lawyer, consider reaching out to a nearby university, as many law schools operate free clinics that offer legal advice to the community.  

You can also call a hotline specific to your country. In the UK, the Revenge Porn Helpline provides support to victims in crisis, while the U.S.-based Cyber Civil Rights Initiative Crisis Helpline also provides referrals and non-legal advice.

3. Seek Emotional Support

Since negative judgment from certain friends or family members is a possibility, spending time with especially close, trusted members of your circle will be a great comfort during this time. They can help take your mind off the situation by engaging you in unrelated conversation or getting you to participate in your favorite hobbies. 

A therapist can also help you work through feelings of depression and anxiety, while equipping you with the tools you need to address the longer-term impacts, such as PTSD. To locate a licensed therapist or counselor near you, check out Psychology Today’s Find a Therapist tool. 

Although revenge porn remains common, the great news is that the tides are slowly turning, and social norms now place more blame on the perpetrators’ disrespect for consent instead of shaming the victims. Public efforts to raise awareness of the issue continue to reach and educate new audiences.

Educational Campaigns

Around the world, various organizations continue to educate the public about revenge porn. Denmark-based NGO, the Danish Women’s Society, created the #AskFirst campaign to raise awareness of the issue. Their campaign featured an iPhone video that mimicked real sexting and tagging it on platforms with the title “Ex Girlfriend doesn’t know I shared this!” to catch the viewer engaging in consuming revenge porn. 

In 2021, U.S.-based nonprofit Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment (PAVE) launched the national campaign #RewritingRevengePorn. The campaign redefines revenge porn as self-generated material that is a form of sexual abuse and calls for action ranging from removing malicious intent clauses from existing legal language to criminalizing threats.

Changing Social Norms

The world won’t be letting go of tech anytime soon, and there is new mainstream acceptance of the fact that nudes and sexting are often a normal part of dating life.

Because of this, the social norms have shifted to promote digital literacy and using technology with consent in a way that maintains healthy relationships rather than destroying them.

In an increasingly digital world, sexting or recording partnered sex acts comes with risk. Victims are never at fault for the actions of those who betray their trust but continue to be extremely cautious about the people with whom they share sexually explicit images and be wary of allowing others to record them during sex acts. 

Consent is everything: The only people who deserve your time and respect are those who understand how essential your privacy is. Revenge porn situations are undeniably difficult, but remind yourself that your true worth has nothing to do with someone else’s choice to disrespect you.