When people hear the term “revenge porn,” they often think of a former partner sharing intimate images after a relationship has ended.

While this is one form of violence, the term does not capture the full reality of image-based sexual violence or the many ways people can experience sexual violence through digital spaces.

Image-based sexual violence involves the creation, sharing, distribution, or threat to share intimate images or recordings without a person’s consent.

It can also include situations where someone is pressured, manipulated, or coerced into sharing intimate images in the first place.

Importantly, this form of sexual violence is not limited to images that were originally shared consensually.

It can include intimate images taken without a person’s knowledge, recordings made without consent, threats to distribute private content, or digitally altered or AI-generated sexual images that depict a person without their permission.

At its core, image-based sexual violence is a violation of consent, privacy, dignity, and bodily autonomy.

The impact on survivors can be profound. Many experience fear, shame, anxiety, humiliation, and ongoing distress.

Unlike some other forms of violence, the impact can feel continuous, especially when images are shared repeatedly or when there is uncertainty about where they may appear next.

Survivors may also experience victim blaming, with harmful questions such as “Why did you take the photo?” or “Why did you send it?” These responses shift responsibility away from the person who chose to cause violence.

The responsibility always lies with the person who created, shared, threatened, or distributed the content without consent.

In South Africa, the unlawful distribution of intimate images without consent is recognised as a criminal offence under the Cybercrimes Act, reflecting the seriousness of this form of sexual violence.

As technology evolves, so too must our understanding of sexual violence. Image-based sexual violence is not a “digital mistake” or a private matter. It is a serious violation with emotional, psychological, social, and legal consequences.

If you can’t speak to anyone, speak to us:

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WhatsApp line (083 222 5164, weekdays)

 

Written by

Jameelah Ebrahim