Sexting Protected in Victoria, Australia

Sexting Has Just Become Safer In Australia’s Victoria

Mobile phones are amazing aren’t they? You can Facebook stalk your friends at the bus stop, take selfies aplenty in the public toilets and complete the next level of Candy Crush during a meeting. The mobile phone has also helped millions of people out there get flirty and naughty, with the evolution of sexting – the art of sending sexually charged messages or nude selfies via text.

Although many would never admit it, a lot of us have either sent or received the naked crotch shot, but with bare crotch can come bare-faced cheek. Whilst the majority of naked selfies will be seen only by the recipient and kept secret in their phones, a small number of unscrupulous *bleeps* are ruining it for everyone, by uses the images in their evil schemes.

When spurned by their lover these *bleeps* share the intimate images with friends and the globe, by posting them on the internet. The images are usually accompanied by a hurtful or embarrassing message designed to cause the most discomfort possible to the victim.

These bottom-feeders and the websites that allow them to have their sickening revenge, usually escape justice because there are no laws to control them. Well the state of Victoria has decided that enough is enough and has introduced legislation that will protect sexters. The legislation has made it illegal to distribute, or even threaten to distribute, explicit images of an individual without their consent. Finally, these revenge posters of nude pictures may receive the justice they deserve, even before a picture is leaked online.

Victoria is not the only place that has decided to crack down the ‘revenge porn’ industry, although success has been limited, it send a message that these seedy individuals will no longer be tolerated. California recently introduced a law that labelled, attempts to cause distress by circulation provocative photos, as ‘disorderly conduct’, an offense that can result in 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine (both doubled for repeat offenders).

New Jersey has also made attempt to stamp out ‘Revenge Porn’ by prohibiting any individual without consent from sharing explicit images, convicting those who aim to cause unnecessary distress with their actions. This legislation is a good start, but it is clear that further reform is needed.

For example, a loophole in the California bill allows someone to distribute an image as many times as they like, as long as the person in it has taken the photo themselves. Seems rather shocking doesn’t it?

Yes many of these ‘revenge porn’ sites will get shut down eventually, but will that really give the victims a sense of justice? Thousands of people have already seem the images, which could have caused severe repercussions to the victim, from being fired from their jobs, to depression and anxiety.

Sexting can be a wonderful thing; a way to build intimacy and improve the sex life of couples by engaging in a bit of fantasy. But, whilst there is a chance that something so private may be shared with the world, many of us are not willing to take the risk, which is such a shame. Sending sexts should never be used to ruin someone’s life or cause humiliation, and that is why more needs to be done to protect sexters everywhere. So kudos to Victoria for taking a hard stance on a growing issue.

If you are a dedicated sexter, but are worried about repercussions, only ever sext to someone that you trust completely and never include your face or any identifying markers so you have can deny that it is you if the worse happens.

Be careful sexters!

Read the full story on The Daily Beast.

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