‘Young People Just Resolve It in Their Own Group’: Young People’s Perspectives on Responses to Non-Consensual Intimate Image Distribution

Abstract

While responses to non-consensual intimate image distribution (NCIID) often highlight criminal law remedies, little is known about how young people are choosing to respond to this act and whether they perceive legal intervention as a useful tool. Drawing from interviews with 10 teenagers and survey responses from 81 adult supporters, we provide insight into how young people perceive the supports available to them for responding to NCIID. We find young people may avoid seeking support from both the criminal justice system and adults in general due to fears of adult overreaction, victim blaming and shaming, and self/peer criminalization.

“Weaponized sexuality” to the normalization of sexual violence: Rape culture and the nonconsensual distribution of intimate imagery (NCDII)

“…As NCDII is experienced at high rates by young people, it is imperative to recognize their perceptions, and practical barriers to accessing justice, in addition to the realities faced when reports are made to police. Overall, the literature identifies limitations, suggesting the law does not serve as a deterrent, is not viewed as viable, is not prioritized, and offers limited outcomes when reports are made (Dodge & Lockhart, 2021;Johnson et al, 2018;Bailey & Burkell, 2020;.…”

“…Young people, generally, also do not want to get their peers, who may be the sharers, in trouble. Similarly, Dodge and Lockhart (2021) found young people are not interested in legal responses to NCDII, and if they tell anyone it is their peers. Young people do not want to disclose their experiences to adults in general, let alone criminal justice representatives, as they worry adults will overreact, use the criminal law in an unhelpful manner, or blame/shame the young people for their involvement in the incident (Dodge & Lockhart, 2021).…”

“…Concerns for judgemental shame/blame from others were noted as "top of mind" (p. 6) for many youth participants in Dodge and Lockhart's (2021) study on NCDII non-disclosure: "the possibility of judgemental adult responses is often understood as a worse fate than having other teens see one's nude image" (p. 6). Considering the ways youth sexuality is framed, fears of parental anger, disappointment and shame justify young people's silence (Dodge & Lockhart, 2021). Bailey and Burkell (2020) note young people often refrain from even sharing their stories with peers, as doing so is conceived of as "making a scene or adding to the drama" (p. 122).…”

“…Globally, institutional actors have employed various prevention tactics to dissuade the public from engaging in NCDII, including but not limited to public service campaigns, creation of educational materials, school-based initiatives, and social media awareness (Coburn, Connolly & Roesch, 2015;Bailey, 2017;Hrick, 2021;Angrove, 2015;Ferreira, 2021;Dodge & Lockhart, 2021;Canadian Centre for Child Protection, 2022). While preventative, educational responses may often be the best means to address NCDII, caution must be utilized as to what the messaging is (Dodge & Lockhart, 2021), and feminist scholars have challenged much of the state's attempts at prevention as much is centered on victim/survivor responsibility (Karaian, 2015).…”

“…Sexual violence, inclusive of NCDII, is an underreported form of violence, as rape culture has made victim blame and shame a reality for many victims/survivors, justifying their silence, so the known prevalence numbers are likely underestimates (Dodge & Lockhart, 2021;Eaton & McGlynn, 2020). Prevalence rates are important given the harms experienced by victims/survivors of NCDII are vast (McGlynn et al, 2021), so it is necessary to understand how frequently this occurs.…”