Revenge porn is something that has existed for quite a while, but only now is being properly talked about.
Recent survey results have revealed that one in ten ex-partners have threatened to post lewd photos of their former partners online, and 60% have followed through on their threats.
Partners and in most cases men, have used revenge porn as a way of punishing their partners for either cheating on them, or in some cases behaving in a way they didn’t approve of.
Professor Mary Anne Franks, law professor at the University of Miami School of Law and Vice said: “men use revenge porn as a way to punish women for behaving in ways that they do not approve of – for leaving them, for rejecting them, for being happy without them.”
Holly Jacobs, who was a victim of revenge porn, revealed the police were unable to help her when her boyfriend posted risqué photos of her online.
“Alongside the images was my name, email, date of birth, home address, and place of work. It wasn’t long before the threatening emails started rolling in. Some even sent me lewd photographs of themselves to prove how much they were enjoying the material.”
Realising there was no help for victims of revenge porn, Holly set up a campaign two years ago. That campaign became a part of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative in the US and in turn made revenge porn illegal in some American states.
This law soon spread to other countries such as Australian state of Victoria, Israel and Brazil.
Campaigners in the UK are now hoping that similar laws will soon be passed there to ban revenge porn for good.
“Publicly speaking out has given victims the power to reclaim their lives, and shift the shame and blame to where it belongs – with the perpetrators.”
