Sexting complaints explosion: Girls as young as 13 blackmailed into sending explicit photos

GIRLS as young as 13 are being blackmailed into sending explicit photos of themselves amid an explosion in sexting complaints to the cyber watchdog.

GIRLS as young as 13 are being blackmailed into sending explicit photos of themselves amid an explosion in sexting complaints to the cyber watchdog.

The Children’s eSafety Commissioner has fielded a “staggering increase” in sexting complaints involving girls aged 13 to 17, and has ramped up calls for teen victims to come forward.

Lawyers are being engaged by schools as part of their cyber safety arsenal, to educate students on the tough legal consequences of distributing sexual photos.

A disturbing insight into the world of teen sexting reveals boys are begging teenage girls to send them sexual pictures, saying they “need them” and “don’t you want to make me happy?”.

Girls interviewed by the Herald Sun said they were happy to send the pictures as they were proud of their bodies, but were left devastated when their trust was breached.

Girls interviewed by the Herald Sun say tehy have been left devastated when their trust was breached.

Office of the Children’s ­eSafety Commissioner executive manager Julia Cornwell McKean said the number of sexting-based complaints rose from 3 per cent of all matters last financial year to 25 per cent since July 1.

In a disturbing trend, she said, teenage girls were being coerced into sending images to people — often strangers — they mistakenly believed they could trust.

“That person then uses those images to blackmail the target into providing further, more explicit images under threat of exposing the initial material to friends and family on social media,” she said.

“In all of these cases, we advise targeted individuals to collect evidence of the misuse of these images and, where appropriate, to contact police to report this as technology-­facilitated abuse.”

Police took action against 88 offenders under new sexting offences in the 15 months to March 2016.

Crime Statistics Agency figures reveal 28 of the offenders nabbed for distributing intimate images or threatening to were aged between 10 to 17.

Sixteen of the victims were minors.

The Eastern Community Legal Centre is among organisations sending out lawyers to schools to educate students.

Principal lawyer Belinda Lo said sexting was considered so normal now that there was no point trying to dissuade students from doing it.

She said schools were struggling to know how to deal with the consequences of private photos being shared amongst students.

“For a lot of girls sending these messages is now considered a normal part of a young person’s life,” she said.

“We talk to them about the legalities of when these photos get distributed without their consent as a way to humiliate someone, about criminal law as well as gender equality issues.

“Young people understand but don’t seem really concerned about getting into trouble with the law, it’s not something that feels very real. So we try and tell them that if they do get hauled into the legal system, how it might affect them getting a job in future, for example.”

Eastern Community Legal Centre principal lawyer Belinda Lo. Picture: Josie Hayden

FOUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY ON SEXTING

Boy — Year 9, aged 15

“Personally I don’t think people should do it unless they are in a relationship and feel comfortable with sending them.

Unfortunately I have done it. I sent one to a girl who is in the year above me.

I wasn’t really thinking at the time. I sent it because she asked me for them after she sent me some.

I don’t exactly know what the response of it was, it was like “yeah, OK cool”.

I have never directly asked for nudes and I don’t think I ever will. I think it might be because of people thinking I’m needy.

I have only kept one, which was consented by the person sending it.

Never in a million years would I show anyone pictures of people that trusted me to see them naked.

If I did show anyone and she found out I think it would make her feel violated and vulnerable. I would feel ashamed.”

Girl — Year 9, aged 14

“I’ve sent a few photos to friends. I didn’t really think about it y’know.

There was one guy I liked so I guess that’s why I sent it to him.

It’s your personal choice, if you do it it’s up to you and not anyone’s business.

They’ve all kept the photos to themselves.

But I’ve definitely been pressured to send them.

They say they need it and “don’t you like me?”

OMG yes I’ve been sent pics by guys before too.

It’s like, ‘Dude I don’t even want them’ and they’re just like ‘wtf surprise’.

It’s so disrespectful. They aren’t even attractive and I don’t like it

It’s just disgusting and I hate how they feel like they have the right.

My school has always told me it will ruin my future when getting a job. Most of what the school says though is bull####.”

Girl — Year 9, aged 14

“A year or so ago I sent a ‘nude’ to a close guy friend of mine and he sent it around soon after. It didn’t bother me too much that people had seen it- more than he broke my trust.

It made me upset and nervous to go to school because of what people would say.

I felt really betrayed when he showed others. At the time I didn’t do very much about it as I was fairly scared and anxious about what others would say.

I’ve sent quite a few honestly, I’ve sent them to my boyfriend, and ex-boyfriend. They didn’t show anyone. I only send them to people I really trust or love.

Guys message me continuously, asking and begging me for a nude.

Some say ‘don’t you want to make me happy?’ and ‘I’m so sad and I really need this’.

They tell me that my boyfriend will never know or find out.

I hate when they say that. I stop talking to anyone who constantly asks me or tries to pressure me into it.

A few guys send me random d--k pictures, without me asking or us even talking beforehand.

I find it so disrespectful and gross.

They get sent to me randomly once or twice a month, not always by the same boys.

It makes me feel uncomfortable. Sometimes they say I have to send a photo back because they sent me something. Of course I don’t and I often try to tell them how wrong it is.

It’s messed up how guys just expect girls to want their photos when we really don’t.

I believe it’s your choice if you decide to send them, as long as it’s consensual, you trust the person and you’re both being respectful.

Guys who send random d--k photos to girls who don’t ask for them need to learn that we really don’t like it. We find it disrespectful and gross.”

A disturbing insight into the world of teen sexting reveals boys are begging teenage girls to send them sexual pictures.

Girl — Year 11, age 17

“I think sending nudes is totally fine.

A body is a body and nothing should be taboo about that.

If sending those kinds of photos is something that makes you feel good about yourself and you’re doing it for your own reasons and the person you’re sending them to wants to see them, then I don’t see how that can be seen as shameful.

I sure have sent photos to my platonic friends and partners. It can be super fun.

Because I looked good and felt comfortable and confident in myself.

My friends do not see the human body as something to be shameful of, we embrace diverse bodies and lift up each others’ self confidence.

I’ve never had any experience of people leaking my nudes.

The people I’ve sent them to are trustworthy and respectful enough to keep that private.

But if someone I trusted ever did show anybody else, I’d feel pretty betrayed.

It’s a breach of my privacy as I shared those photos with specific people, not for everyone’s eyes.

It’s just like consent with sex, you consent to having sex with specific people and it’s not up to anyone else to choose those people for you.

It’s your body, your rules.

I have felt pressured, it was more people begging for me to send photos. But I never did anything I was uncomfortable with, and they respected that.

Adults have been telling us from a young age that you shouldn’t send nudes and if you do all the consequences and backlash that may occur is your own fault. I completely disagree.

My friends and I have informative, in-depth educated discussions free of embarrassment and judgment. We learn from each other and draw our own opinions from the media.

I’ve also learnt a lot from my mum, who speaks out against victim blaming and slut shaming.

I have been sent many unsolicited d--k pics from random men I don’t know online, many as old as 30.

I personally find it disgusting that men think we want to see their genitals. It’s not attractive. If you’re sending it to someone who you have a mutual trust and you know them it’s completely different, but girls don’t owe you anything and don’t want to see your d--k.”

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@ElissaDoherty