Essay Sample on Revenge Porn

Introduction

Citron and Franks (2014) defines revenge porn as the process of releasing pictures or videos of a person's sexual activity with the details of connecting the person. It is the publication of pornographic film or images which is posted or circulated minus the permission of one or more participant usually with mischievous and spiteful intent such as a breakup. In politics, revenge porn can be used against a political opponent with an objective of tarnishing the image of an individual. In most cases, it involves blackmailing an individual through seduction with a hidden aim of finding a way of blackmailing a particular political figure.

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Modern technology is a characteristic of globalization where people can receive information just by a click of a button. About 80% of the world population has easy access to the internet. Many people use social media to communicate. People make use of social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram among other popular platforms to achieve their objective of releasing pornographic films and pictures of influential individuals.

Revenge porn also sexual harassment and cyber bullying in the virtual world. In most cases, the victims face the consequences (Citron & Franks, 2014). Culprits are mostly individuals in vulnerable stages of life who decide to engage in revenge porn to have a delusion covering their uncertainties and unbalanced disposition. There are things which can be done to combat revenge porn politically.

The primary step to combat revenge porn is to reduce stigma against nudity (Citron & Franks, 2014). Since the stigma against nudity exists in the society, people take advantage of it to blackmail others through revenge porn. The stigma is pervasive and nonsensical. In many occasions of revenge porn, only nude photos are common. It doesn't involve actual sex. Nudity alone without a provocative pose is enough to subject someone to stigma and blackmail. If the society could embrace nudity as a way of appreciating beauty, then people would not feel embarrassed, or it would not be possible to shame and harass people by putting their pictures online.

Politicians can also integrate a culture of zero-tolerance to sexual harassment by enacting laws which criminalize revenge porn. Pornography is illegalized in many countries. The culture of zero tolerance to sexual harassment is possible by saying no to unwanted and non-consensual sexual manifestation (Citron & Franks, 2014).

The political elite can also create an environment for victims of revenge porn through the media to enable them to share out their sentiments and experiences. It is a way of creating awareness as a way of advocating against revenge porn. Governments can dedicate specific websites to revenge porn where victims can share their stories. Through these platforms, they can share their life experiences and what they did to come out of being victims of cyberbullying and how their lives changes after such incidences.

Revenge porn helpline is also essential in combating revenge porn. These are platforms which can help in supporting victims of revenge porn. Such platforms highlight the horrendous conditions to which victims are subjected to and this forces them to isolate themselves from others.

Conclusion

According to Citron and Franks (2014), there is a need to educate people as a way of combating revenge porn. An outgrowth of revenge porn is misogyny which takes two forms online and reduces the stigma of nudity. There is a need to teach people to avoid sending nude pictures of themselves to their boyfriends or girlfriends. People should avoid posting nude pictures of them since it would be a target of humiliation and sexual harassment through cyberbullying.

References

Citron, D. K., & Franks, M. A. (2014). Criminalizing revenge porn. Wake Forest L. Rev., 49, 345.