A new poll of 9,033 people worldwide shines a light on the true extent of explicit images that are being captured, stored, and shared on smart devices.

The UK findings correlate with the widespread experience of intimate image abuse (IIA), also known as ‘revenge porn’, with a third (33%) of all UK respondents reporting that they either know someone who has survived this form of online abuse or survived it themselves (7%).

IIA is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with 69% of 16-24 year-olds and 63% of 25-34 year-olds reporting experiences of revenge porn.

“Our research highlights the increasing normalisation of a critical societal issue: the public, especially younger individuals, are sharing intimate images in increasing numbers without considering the consequences,” explained David Emm, principal security researcher, Kaspersky.

He adds: “Over the past 25 years, technology has made capturing and sharing such images effortless, and there have been significant shifts in behaviour and attitudes towards online dating, accelerating the trend of sharing intimate messages. Awareness of the risks that are being taken can empower individuals to make more informed digital choices.”

There is also a disparity among different age groups in the UK when it comes to their experiences with explicit images. Among 16-24-year-olds, over half (54%) reported receiving intimate images from people they’ve never met in real life, compared to only 12% of those over 55.

There is also an imbalance in the platforms used for sharing intimate images. For 55% of 16-24-year-olds, Snapchat is the preferred platform for viewing and sharing explicit material with people they are dating. In contrast, among the 55 plus age group, WhatsApp (35%) and email (20%) are the most popular ways to share or view these images.

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The study also highlights the issue of ‘victim blaming’ across all age groups, with almost half (48%) of respondents agreeing that if you share an image of yourself, it is your fault if it ends up in the wrong hands.

Sophie Mortimer, Revenge Porn Helpline manager at charity SWGfL, commented: “We can see every day that intimate image abuse is a continuing problem, but this study shows us where we need to take action: building a national and international conversation about the meaning and importance of consent, improving online safety knowledge for adults and young people alike and making it clear that, when intimate image abuse happens, it is the perpetrators who are entirely at fault.’’

Advice for staying safe: 

• Think before you post. Be mindful of who you share your data with and when. Always consider how the content you share online might be interpreted and used by others.
• Understand which messengers are safe and which have end-to-end encryption
• If you think you are a victim of IIA, keep evidence, and report it to the police and platforms where you believe your data is available
• Always check the permission settings on the apps you use, to minimise the likelihood of your data being shared or stored by third parties – and beyond – without your knowledge
• Utilise StopNCII.org, a global online tool to help protect intimate images from being shared online across some of the most widely used platforms across the world.