Social Media Awareness Dictionary

Revenge porn

Short Definition
Definition

Revenge porn is a type of pornography in which someone takes sexually explicit photos or videos of another person without their consent, and then disseminates them online as a way to humiliate or embarrass that person. The act can be motivated by a desire for revenge after a breakup or other falling-out, but it can also be done without any specific motivation beyond the desire to cause harm. In either case, it's a form of sexual harassment and can be deeply traumatizing for the victim. There's no one definition of revenge porn, because the term is used to describe a wide range of behavior. In some cases, the perpetrator may simply post the images or videos on social media or on a website dedicated to revenge porn. In other cases, they may send them directly to the victim's friends or family members. And in some cases, they may attempt to extort money from the victim by threatening to release the images unless they're paid off. The rise of social media and smartphones has made it easier than ever for people to share intimate photos and videos, which has in turn made revenge porn more common. But even before the advent of technology, there were cases of people being humiliated by having their sexual encounters made public. For example, in 1871, an Englishwoman named Caroline Norton was estranged from her husband after he had an affair with another woman. As punishment, he published intimate letters she had written to him, as well as details about their sex.

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