Online Sexual Harassment

Cyberbullying and harassment has consistently been in the news in the last decade with the rise of social media and its effects on how individuals interact. Usually, we associate this kind of behavior with revenge porn or teenage drama on Facebook - meaning, very deliberate, calculated, and knowing acts of harassment. However, a Buzzfeed article recently focused on models Emily Sears and her friend Laura, both of whom have prominent Instagram followings. The women interviewed stated that on average, they receive a minimum of one to two unsolicited "dick pics" per day, frequently with graphic captions referencing sex. Initially, the women reported that when they would respond negatively to the photos, many men would respond back that they sent the photos because they "liked [the girl] a lot." Occasionally, however, Emily and Laura's responses were met "with a string of sexual slurs and abuse, and [they] kept calling me a slut."

Both women have since began publicly adopting strategies to combat the regular influx of unwanted pornography on their Instagram accounts: when they receive a message from a man, they scroll his profile, find a wife, girlfriend or family member, and attempt to contact them with a screenshot of the messages they have received. 



Since they have began publicizing their efforts to shame men for #1 their online sexual harassment of strangers and #2 their mistreatment of significant others and family members, both women have reported the number of pictures they receive daily has started to decrease.

However, this is undoubtedly an issue that moves far beyond models on Instagram. First and foremost, the idea that a nude picture is #1 the way to lead off a conversation and #2 an expression of how much you like a person, is disconcerting. Secondly, the fact that many men's responses to a negative reaction was effectively using sexually abusive slurs is equally as alarming. This is cut and dry, online sexual harassment. Evidently, on a fundamental societal level, there is a clear disconnect (at least with some men) on what women like and what is considered acceptable on in terms of how women should be treated.

If you care to read more, here is the full article below:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/a-model-is-alerting-girlfriends-of-the-men-who-send-her-dick#.gfwwzwOqQ