A new type of harrasment online
Cyberflashing is the term used to describe the behavior of those who send obscene images, often depicting the sender’s genitals, against the recipient’s will. The tools abusers use to share their private parts are primarily instant messaging services, although technologies are often used that, depending on the brand or model of smartphone, go by different names, such as Nearby Share, Bluetooth, or the Airdrop system. In the latter case, the default settings allow anyone to send images anonymously, and the recipient is forced to preview them before deciding whether or not to accept them. This system has led to a series of abuses, on the streets and on public transportation, which are even more disturbing because the abuser is unknown and in close proximity to the victim.
It’s worth noting that, statistically, the victims of this behavior are primarily women. Indeed, an article published in Internazionale in the fall of 2020 reported a study conducted in the United Kingdom that found that more than 40 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 35 said they had received an unsolicited image of male genitals. In Italy and elsewhere, data also indicates that the victims are generally women, of all ages.
Practical measures that can help prevent cyberflashing include changing the Airdrop reception setting to “contacts only.” For all other smartphone models, it’s best to always disable Bluetooth or generally avoid accepting media files from strangers. Finally, it’s important to emphasize, even in these cases, how crucial it is to respect and protect the consent of others and that exposing strangers or acquaintances to nude images against their will is a violation.