I subscribe to a website that keeps me updated on petitions which need signatures on important issues.  The one that I received today was in regards to “Revenge Porn.”   This has been bought to the attention of the Senate Committee and they have been asked to make it a Federal Crime.  This is a short synopsis of the bill in question.

Their review of the current laws follows alarming reports last year that tens of thousands of intimate images of Queensland and South Australian women were released without their consent, along with research that shows 1 in 10 Australian’s have had to endure someone sending a sexually explicit image of them to others without their permission, or someone threatening to publicly share such an image

I find this all very disturbing.  I do feel that in this day and age not a lot surprises us any more in regards to sex.  If you watch any of the shows on HBO such as Game of Thrones, Entourage or Vinyl – you will see graphic sex scenes.  The music industry is rife with lyrics and accompanying vision such as Nicki Minaj: My anaconda don’t want none unless you got buns, Hun or Rihanna: I can be your dominatrix/Just submit to my every order/Enter my diamond matrix/If you want my golden flower.  Seriously!  I am sure there are a lot of parents who have no idea what their little darlings are listening too until your precious princess starts singing along to Beyonce in the back of the car – Can you lick my skittles/That’s the sweetest in the middle/Pink that’s the flavour/Solve the riddle…………..

Do people now think it is permissible to take advantages of others because we are now a far more sexualised society than in our parents day?  I am pretty sure the type of images they are talking about are not the random “boobie” shot which most young woman have done at some time in their younger years – these images must be very explicit to warrant calling the police to intervene.

With all this being said  it is never OK to pass on any photos or videos that you have taken or received.  It is not OK but with that being said I feel that I do have to make the point that if they were never taken or filmed there would be nothing to worry about.  With the impact of Social Media on our lives today no one should ever think that anything that is put out there into cyberspace will not come back to bite you one day.

Yes it is still very wrong for someone to use it as a tool to get back at you.  They are either angry at a situation or just a nasty vindictive piece of trash who take delight in the suffering of others and will use the images to seek financial gain through blackmail, or to try to create some type of self hyped notoriety while probably using the images for their own self gratification in a attempt to feed their Narcissistic or Egocentric needs with no regards to the psychological ramifications their actions have caused.

So, I have signed this petition because I believe that we need laws pertaining to Social Media to stop these behaviours which have tragically led to suicides.

Everything you post on Social Media impacts your Personal Brand – How do you want to be known? Lisa Horn