In today’s technological age, youth are constantly using social media. Although many social benefits come from using these tools, they can cause irreparable damage to youth.
Among the most affected groups are young women. For instance, in a 2021 study, depression, low self-esteem, appearance anxiety and body dissatisfaction are all associated with Instagram use.
In addition to the disturbing impacts on young women using social media, Western culture is increasingly become normalized to hyper-sexualization.
Hyper-sexualization refers to the normalization of young women in sexual settings. Because it is easy to remain anonymous or lie about yourself online, young women can be easily manipulated by online actors. These instances are crimes when adults abuse young women online to share explicit photos. This is called sextortion.
Amanda Todd
In September 2012, Amanda Todd, and Port Coquitlam, BC, a teenager, posted a Youtube Video titled “My story: Struggling, bullying, suicide, self-harm.” She was using an online video site and met a man who asked her to flash him, and she did.
At that moment, the man on the other end screenshotted the image and threatened to share the pictures of her with Todd’s friends and family.
This kind of coercive control is called sextortion and indentures the victim to the demands of the person possessing the explicit images.
In response to this abuse, Todd used drugs and alcohol to cope, ultimately leading her to post the Youtube video and commit suicide.
A case against the Dutchman was filed, and this June 2022, he was deported to Canada in December 2020.
The man allegedly created 22 social media accounts to threaten and taunt Todd. Such forms of online bullying and, in this case, criminal activity could not have happened without the accessibility and availability of the internet.
Women and Online Safety
This could have happened to anyone, any young woman on the internet. No parent can monitor their child every minute, and it is naive for parents to assume their children are not on social media. For these reasons, young women must take precautions to protect themselves from online abuse.
Using social media means exposing yourself to many people of all kinds. In addition, people can be deceptive and manipulative and strategically use young women online for personal gain.
As a result, women need to take precautions to protect their confidential online information and images. In addition to changing online privacy settings, young women should be cautious of who they allow to enter their social spheres.
Although someone may seem kind and understanding at first, taking a long time to develop a relationship with you, they may flip when they feel it is for their benefit.
In this way, people whom you have once trusted could use your personal information against you. In any case, it is necessary to talk with someone you trust and create a safe action plan to combat online abuse.
Online bullying could dramatically impact young women, such as Amanda Todd, and need to be taken seriously. If the abuse becomes serious, the Edmonton Police Department has the authority to launch an investigation if the threats are targetting at the victims and their friends and family.
Please see the Edmonton Police Department website to access other Edmonton and area-specific resources on online bullying and harassment.
Healing From Sexual Abuse with Devanie Conrad | The Key is Forgiveness
