What to do in case of sexual cyberbullying?

Update from April 30 at 1:30 p.m.). The figures of cyberbullying are unfortunately eloquent in this period of confinement … according to the e-child association, “FICHA” accounts are multiplying. Young people do not hesitate to publish bare photos, without the consent of the person to ‘display it “in public. The association currently receives More than 350 calls per week on the Net National List Regarding cyberbullying. 20% of these calls, mainly linked to these “FICHA” accounts, lead to a report when they were only 10% before the health crisis. A situation that worries the government and brought the Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men to hit the table. “”These images are constitutive of Revenge Porn (use intimate photos without the knowledge), punished with 2 years in prison and 60,000 euros fine“, Explained Maître Eric Morain, a relative of Marlène Schiappa on Twitter. Indeed, Ce that we call Revenge Porn is an act more and more present in recent years, especially with the emergence of social networks. Young people being equipped earlier with smartphones or digital tablets, “So you have to worry about what they do with these tools“warns the psychiatrist Serge Tisseron*.”Social networks are a playground conducive to cyberbullying, Whether sexual or not“, Specifies the expert. So how to identify the sexual cyberbill And how to educate young people? What if your child or teenager is a victim? Answers.

Broadcast photos or sexual videos Without the opinion of the person concerned is punished by law. Since the adoption in 2016 of the law “for a digital republic”, The “Revenge Porn” or the “Pornodivulgation“are practices punishable by two years’ imprisonment and 60,000 euros fineaccording to article 226-2-1 of the penal code. In addition, people who send pornographic photos or films to young people under the age of 16 are guilty of Diffusion of pornographic content and are punishable by criminal sanctions. From the moment when the child or the teenager shares this type of content featuring other people, he in turn became harassed. According to the law 2014-873 of the penal code of August 4, 2014, cyberbullying is punishable by one year imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 euros. He is punished with two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros when these facts are committed on a minor under the age of 15.

Cyberbullying (or cybersexism) Can be practiced through mobile phones, instant messaging available on Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat, Forums or online games for example. According to the law, it is defined as “An aggressive, intentional act perpetrated by one or more individuals via electronic tools, and repeatedly“”. Sexual cyberbullying Thus imposes on the victim of words or behaviors with sexual connotation, undermining his dignity. These intimidation, insults, threats, propagation of rumors, publications of photos or videos are degrading or humiliating. And by definition, the Internet has no borders. Sexual cyberbullying practices take a different form according to the sex of the victim:

“Ficha” accounts

From the verlan “display”, the “Ficha” accounts are created on Snapchat and consist in distributing, without the consent of the person, photos (often an ex -girlfriend) on which she appears naked or very naked.

Slut-shaming

This is a kind of lynching which consists in lowering girls because of their sexual behavior (their practices, their number of parties, their attitudes or their appearance …) Whether real facts, extrapolated words or rumors conveyed on social networks. But this practice stigmatizes behaviors and condemns “erotic” or sexually active women, giving them an unattractive image, easy girls, even “prostitutes”. Quite widespread, this type of cyberbully is perpetrated as much by girls as by boys.

Sexing

Contraction of “sex” and “texting”, this act consists of Send pornographic messages by mobile or internet Or erotic, naked photos or videos or in suggestive poses to other young people (generally, to your boyfriend). If these shipments must in theory remain within an intimate framework, they can be shared with other students (consciously or under the effect of the pressure of a group). Problem: all compromising videos or images can quickly find themselves on the Internet or on social networks and remain very difficult to remove.

The Sextorion

The Sextorion is a form of blackmail and intimidation related to sexing. Under a false identity or a pseudo, a person (most often an adult) manages to obtain naked or compromising photos of young people (whether girls or boys) via social networks or internet. He intimidated his victim by threatening to make these images public. The goal? Always get more compromising images, money or a meeting.

Revenge-Porn

Revenge-Porn is the fact of broadcast or share compromising, erotic or pornographic photos or videos to other people Without the victim’s consent (girl or boy). The goal? Take revenge on his ex and humiliate him, most often after a separation. A practice all the more facilitated by instant photo sharing platforms like Snapchat. Revenge-Porn is more practiced by boys, explained the national college of French gynecologists and obstetricians at a conference on the exhibition of young people at pornography in June 2018.

Sexual cyberries: talk about it, absolutely!

Serge Tisseron is formal: “We must talk about it, both in the family sphere and in school, by ensuring that the child is not afraid to be tried or misunderstood“. For that, “Sexuality and emotional life education courses should be really dispensed. This would be an opportunity to explain to young people the limits of freedom of expression, the right to intimacy, the right to image, the difference between harassment and cyberbulk, to teach them to manage multiple threats on their privacy …“He continues.”And you parents, be open to dialogue and as much to listen as possible“. Show that you are interested in your child’s “digital life”. Encourage him to talk about content (photos, videos or texts …) that arrested him or shocked. “”Keep him against nicknames and inheritance in appearance, but in reality false and doubtful. Concretely, tell him not to accept a “friend” whose name he does not know or that he has never met and this, even if he uses a photo of someone he knows (the hackers are good at hacking an account and recovering photos of others). Behind the person with whom he is in contact, may be hidden someone from malicious“, alerts Dr. Werner, pediatrician and member of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics (AFPA), in short,”Prevention is extremely important“, insists Dr. Werner,” sensitize your child or teen in the fact of sending, putting online or keeping photos or videos of him naked or in suggestive situations“.

If he was a victim sexual cyberbullying

It is absolutely necessary to bring together all the evidence (make screenshots, print exchanges …) in order to file a complaint, even if the responsible person is difficult to identify on social networks. Indeed, “With the scrambles of the IP address and geolocation, it becomes harder and harder to find cyberharcelers“, regrets the pediatrician. But sometimes it remains possible. You can also contact your Internet operator or the administrator of the social network to report the person in question. Above all, you have to discuss with the child what he experienced. What has he felt flouted? Did he lose confidence in him? What can we do to help him? … So many questions that promote the dialogue and reconstruction of oneself.”The psychological consequences remain significantly the same as that of a classic moral harassment, except that they relate to intimacy, body and self -image. Unlike a harasser at school or on the street, the cyberharceler is virtual, sometimes remains hidden behind its screen, is unidentifiable and therefore not attacable. In this case, the victim cannot put a face on his harasser and it is more difficult for her to reconstruct herself psychologically“, Explains Dr. Werner. If your child is ashamed to talk about it or is afraid of repercussions, but you notice a discomfort or a change in his behavior (drop in academic results, lack of appetite, sleep disorder, irritability …), offer him to go talk about it in a place of speech independent of the family circle, in a psychologist for example. Is your child a victim or cyberbullying witness? The “net listened” Green number 0800 200 200 is intended for children and adolescents faced with problems in their digital uses. This issue is free, anonymous, confidential and open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Pharos platform, developed by the Ministry of the Interior, makes it possible to report illicit behavior and content.

• If he was the cyberharcelerTry to find what were his motivations to produce such content and to disseminate them (perhaps the desire to take revenge?), As far as possible without passing judgment. Above all, “Discuss together how to limit or repair the damage committed (erase existing content, discuss with the victim of what he wishes to receive as compensation …)“, Advises Dr. Werner. In both cases, do not hesitate to look for advice from specialists and use professional help.

*Interviews collected in October 2018 during a conference on “New challenges in sexual health education” organized by the UNESCO sexual health and human rights chair in the Ministry of Health