Everything you need to know about...
All the different forms of online sexual abuse
Everything you need to know about...
Online sexual abuse is becoming more common and comes in many different forms. Perhaps you have experienced something that you do not feel good about, but you are not sure what it exactly is or whether it is considered online sexual abuse.
Never your fault
Online sexual abuse often occurs in combination with online shaming and blaming, also known as victim blaming. Online sexual abuse is never your fault. You are not alone.
What is online sexual abuse?
We call it online sexual abuse when someone manipulates, threatens or abuses you online with a sexual purpose. It can happen anywhere, for example on social media, on WhatsApp or in games. Anyone can experience it, regardless of age, gender or background.
It is online sexual abuse when:
- A nude photo that someone has sent in confidence is shared with others without permission.
- An adult creates a fake profile on social media to ask a teenager for sexually explicit images.
- Someone creates a false identity on a dating app, gains trust and then asks for intimate images.
- Someone threatens to forward or post intimate images online and forces a person to transfer money or send additional photos.
The many forms of online sexual abuse
There are many different forms of online sexual abuse. This is why it is impossible to give a single definition. On this page we explain the following forms with examples:
- Sextingabuse
- Sextortion
- Exposing
- Photoshop sexting
- Deepfakes
- Grooming
- Revenge porn
Sexting abuse
Sexting abuse occurs when an intimate image of you, which you sent to another person in confidence, is shared online without your consent.
Sextortion
The term ‘sextortion’ is a combination of the words ‘sex’ and ‘extortion’. In other words, sextortion occurs when someone extorts you with nude images. The extortioner can threaten to distribute your nude images if you do not do what the extortioner asks of you.
Exposing
Exposing is the unsolicited sharing of intimate images with personal information, such as your name and/or address. This is usually done to damage your good reputation.
Photoshop sexting
Photoshop sexting is sharing an intimate image where it looks like you are in it. For example, your head is placed on someone else's naked body using Photoshop.
Deepfakes
Deepfake is a way to create fake images where your face can be pasted onto an existing video or photo. The images are edited with computer programs and can look so real that you can't see that it is fake. It seems as if you say or do something, while in reality this never happened. When it comes to intimate images, we also call it 'deepnudes or deepfake porn'. These images can be used to threaten you.
Grooming
Grooming means online child luring with the aim of sexual abuse. A groomer is an adult who pretends to be someone else on the internet and is looking for sexual contact with children and/or adolescents.
Revenge porno
When your intimate images are shared with others without consent as a form of revenge.
Do you recognize yourself in one of the above forms?
Maybe you recognize something you experienced in the above descriptions. Know that you are not alone. It is normal to feel alone, to feel guilty and/or to feel ashamed. But rememberit is not your fault.
