Important Conversations - Support for Students/Families - Intimate Images
Dear Families,
In today’s digital age, more and more of our lives are influenced by technology. As technology becomes increasingly common and accessible, the importance of educating our youth about consent and accountability becomes more critical. It is during our youth that we can be expected to make mistakes and it is through our mistakes that we learn and grow. As adults, it is our responsibility to ensure our youth have the tools to make smart, informed decisions in order to minimize the effects, particularly as it relates to the sharing of intimate images.
We are inviting our families: parents, caregivers, grandparents and other members of a student’s support system, to join us in helping to educate our young people about the risks and potential consequences related to the sharing of intimate images. Please review the information below as a tool to facilitate a conversation with your child to help reinforce the messaging and lessons shared within our schools.
Communication, respect, and honesty are the building blocks of healthy relationships, and consent is about all of those things. Together schools and families can play an important role in helping us create safe, caring and inclusive school communities where all students and staff experience a sense of well-being. Together we can play an important role in helping our children become informed and responsible digital consumers.
How can we facilitate a conversation with youth related to the sharing of intimate images?
Some Helpful Talking Points:
● Ever regret sending an impulsive snap?
● Receive an image that made you blush?
● Your new crush asked for a “pic” and you sent it? Now, it’s online and being shared on social media.
● Is it your fault if someone shares an intimate photo of you? It doesn’t matter if you sent the photo or not. The answer is always the same: it’s not your fault.
If it’s a photo of you, you’re the only one with the right to decide who gets to see it. This means that if someone shares your intimate photo without your consent, they are committing a crime. If the photo is of someone under 18, the person sharing the photo could even be accused of distributing child pornography.
What is considered to be an intimate image?
Some examples could be:
● You sent a nude to someone on Snapchat, that person takes a screenshot and sends it to other people;
● Someone posts sexual photos/videos of you on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or another popular social media app;
● A stranger you met online has access to intimate photos/videos of you and posts on a pornographic website.
● Someone photoshops your face on someone else’s naked body and posts to social media claiming it is you.
In Canada, the non-consensual distribution of images is the sharing of an intimate image, without your consent, when you expect the image to be kept private. An intimate image is one where a person is exposing certain parts of their body such as breasts or genitals. The picture or video could also show explicit sexual acts.
It’s the law
It’s important to understand the potential legal consequences of taking and/or sharing intimate images. For a legal definition of intimate images, please click here.
● Sharing intimate images without consent of the person depicted in the image is a criminal offence.
● Sharing intimate images of a person at any age is a criminal offence.
● Extortion, meaning threatening someone into doing something, is a criminal offence.
It’s also important to know that the storing or distribution of pictures or videos of a person under the age of 18 that are of a sexual nature is considered the possession and distribution of child pornography - even if the person who shares it or has it stored is under the age of 18. For the legal definition of child pornography, please click here. Please note, these images can also be photoshopped or drawn, as outlined in the definition linked above.
If an intimate image has been shared, what can we do?
● Tell a trusted adult and contact the RNC or RCMP.
● If posted on a social media platform (such as SnapChat): make sure that the image or message that contains the intimate image contains the username that posted the image and any comments. Take a screenshot of the account/profile that sent or posted the intimate image. You should also report the image/video to the social media platform.
● If sent via text message: Take a screenshot of the text message and include a screenshot of their contact information to show the number associated with the name in your phone.
● PLEASE NOTE: Any screenshots taken should only be shared with law enforcement officials for investigative purposes.
● Make sure that there is a timestamp on all messages and posts.
● Document all the information you have regarding the incident.
How can we help our youth make better choices when they receive an intimate image?
Encourage them to ask themselves these questions:
● Did the person in this picture mean for it to be shared?
● If it came from someone other than the original sender, did they have permission from the person who’s in it?
● “How would I feel if somebody shared something like this about me?”
Here are some resources that might be helpful as you work to support the young people in your life:
● Talking to Your Kids About Sexting tip sheet
● MediaSmarts: Resources for Families
As always, your school staff are here to help support students and families. Should you wish to discuss these matters further, please contact your school administration or Guidance Counsellor.
No comments:
Post a Comment