Last Updated on August 24, 2023
Social media platforms have become an essential part of our lives. We share our emotions, experiences, and photographs with our loved ones through these platforms. But, there is always a threat of oversharing, where your personal information can be used for malicious purposes. Likewise, one of the biggest concerns of modern society is sharing intimate photos or videos online. Unfortunately, sometimes sharing those with someone you trusted or were once in a relationship can mistakenly lead to problems. If someone is threatening to share private material with you on Facebook, don’t panic. This blog post outlines a few things you should do.
Overview of The Prevalence of This Issue
Sextortion is a prevalent issue, especially in today’s online culture. Cybercriminals easily disguise their identities through fake social media accounts and lure in many victims. They get to become whomever they want, making it challenging to uncover their true identity. This helps them target teens, adults, and older people.
Sextortion has become so much of an issue that the government has taken action to educate the public about the subject. Per the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “Sextortion — the act of threatening to share nude or explicit images — is more common than you may think, and cases affecting young children, teens and adults have increased exponentially in the past two years. In fact, Homeland Security Investigations received over 3,000 sextortion tips in fiscal year 2022.”
What Should I Do If Someone Is Threatening To Share Intimate Photos Videos On Facebook?
As soon as you notice you are being blackmailed with your sexual content, you need to get help. Sextortion isn’t a crime that you can handle on your own. It’s not a crime you can ignore, either. It should only be handled by experts that specialize in sensitive cases.
Steps To Take When Someone Threatens To Share Intimate Photos/Videos on Facebook
- Stay Calm and Report It
The first thing you should do when you receive a threatening message is to stay calm and report it to Facebook. Facebook has created an option to report such threats directly to make reporting easier. It will allow you to explain what happened, and you can select the ‘nudity or pornography’ option. After submitting the report, Facebook will start its procedure to investigate the issue.
- Act Quickly and Ask For Help
Sharing intimate pictures or videos without your consent is a serious issue and can lead to legal action against the person. It’s always essential to take immediate action and ask for help from someone with expertise in the field. Contacting someone with knowledge of this situation, such as the police, can ensure that legal bounds have been exercised and that the situation can be handled legally and appropriately.
- Do Not Pay
Some people ask for money in exchange for removing the post or not publishing it. It’s important not to pay the money because it is illegal and can be used as proof against you. The extortionist can use the proof later, thus putting you in more trouble. Even when you pay, there is no guarantee that the blackmailer will not post the video again.
- Activate Facebook Secure Profile
Facebook has added a security feature that makes it harder for people other than your Facebook friend to look at your profile or private photos. To activate it, go to the “Setting and Privacy” option in Facebook’s menu bar, click on “Privacy,” and scroll down to “Who can see my future posts?”. By turning on this feature, only your Facebook friends, and not strangers, can see your posts, photos, and videos.
- Educate Others
The best weapon against this kind of situation is education. Teaching our loved ones about the dangers of sharing intimate photos and videos over the internet is essential.
Summary
Sharing intimate photos or videos on social media platforms is a sensitive matter that must be handled carefully. Speedy action, a supportive network, and updated privacy settings on Facebook are all important when dealing with these situations. It’s best to avoid potential danger by educating yourself and your friends about the risks of sharing intimate photos and videos. Remember, it’s OK to ask for help in these situations. Stay safe and act smart! Contact Our sextortion helpline & get rid of blackmailers
