Sexual Harassment in the Day and Age of Social Media: Sending Unsolicited Pictures and Why We Shouldn't

Sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual behaviour, comment or gesture that makes an individual feel afraid or uncomfortable, and it has become far too common. Whether it is catcalling individuals from across the street or feeling so bold as to make untoward sexual comments at another individual, sexual harassment plagues society, leaving so many people scared, fearful and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, at one point or another, we have all been subjected to unsolicited pictures that were completely non-consensual. The new age of social media and the newfound dependency on social media platforms has created a space where people have more access to each other than before, allowing for unwarranted comments, attention and unsolicited pictures. Unsolicited pictures are, unfortunately, one of the many common forms of sexual harassment we see in this day and age because of how technology is heavily intertwined with our everyday lives. 

USA Today found that 50% of women aged 18 to 29 had received an unsolicited picture they did not ask for nor consent to. Being sent such pictures is not uncommon and has probably happened to you or someone you know, hence why it is then important to understand just how troubling receiving unwarranted pictures can be to a person's psyche. Being sent such pictures can be incredibly trauma-inducing and leaves one feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. The act of cyber flashing – sending unsolicited pictures – is also compounded with a variety of factors, where women are usually the targets which can ultimately lead to acts of violence and reinforces rape culture whereby sexual violence and harassment becomes normalized in our society. One shouldn’t send unsolicited pictures because it places the individual in an uncomfortable position where they are sent images they did not consent to, making them feel angry or upset. Simply because the receiver did not consent to such pictures, it should be the strongest deterrent from sending unsolicited pictures. Although social media is a great point of sharing exciting things in one’s life and is an opportunity to connect with people all over the globe, there is also an inherent downside to constantly being mixed with technology. This newfound age of technology has created easy access for the continuation of gender-based violence where women are disproportionately targeted, and one such example is through unsolicited pictures. It is far too common a concept for it to be looked over, and it’s important to not only prevent such behaviour from happening but also implement laws that protect individuals from sexual harassment through social media.