Revenge porn is when a perpetrator uploads/distributes graphic images of another individual without their permission.  “Graphic” can mean pornographic, nudity, and other sexual activity.  In a matter of days, the victim’s picture or video could be seen by thousands and shared over  number of sites – the end result  is to embarrass, harass and other blackmail the victim.  The victim often suffers from threats and harassment by others who have seen the images.

“Nonconsensual pornography is frequently a form of domestic violence, as abusers threaten to expose intimate pictures to prevent a partner from exiting a relationship, reporting abuse, or obtaining custody of children. It is also a tool of sex traffickers, who use compromising images to trap unwilling individuals in the sex trade,” according to the Cyber Civil Rights initiative.

What happens if you see such a photo on Facebook?  The good news is there is an out.  First off, Facebook restricts nudity (with the exception of breast feeding and post-operative photos of mastectomy and the like.)  In addition, there are strict rules banning the use of non-consensual porn on Facebook and other social networks.

Facebook writes, “You can anonymously report photos that go against Facebook’s Community Standards. If someone is threatening to share things you want to keep private or asking to you to do something else you’re uncomfortable with…please report this person to us. Before you submit your report, go to this person’s profile and copy their Facebook URL and email address.”

Additionally, if you are the victim of non-consensual porn, Facebook recommends “that victims seek out a victim advocate or social worker  in the US…” as there are victim advocates in county offices, police stations, domestic violence prevention centers, rape crisis centers, sheriff’s offices and offices of state attorneys general that can help.

Here are the basics of reporting non-consensual porn on Facebook:

• Click the photo or video you want to report
• Hover over the photo and click Options in the bottom right
• Select Report Photo or Report Video
• Select I think it shouldn’t be on Facebook

Two routes you can go:

• “This is nudity” or “this is pornography”
• Click on Submit to Facebook for Review

• You can track the status of your report in the Support Dashboard

Options are also given to:

• You can send a message to the person who posted the images or videos.  You can say something to the effect of “I feel this photo is sexually explicit and should not be on Facebook. Would you please take it down?”
• Unfriend the poster
• You could also choose, “This humiliates me or someone I know” and then submit to Facebook for Review

You can track the status of your report in the Support Dashboard where you can click on their safety tab for additional support.

Helpful Facebook Articles

• What to do if someone is threatening to share something I want to keep private?
• What should I do if someone shares an intimate photo of me?
• How do I report an abusive photo?
• How do I report other types of content?
• What are Facebook’s Community Standards?