With all the drama that has afflicted many of those who have done so, one would think the message may have got out there by now but apparently not. I’m talking about posting pics of yourself in the altogether online and believing no harm will come to you as a result.
Trust me, it can find you all right and if it does, it could get really nasty and turn your life upside down.
Like the “sextortion” racket currently targeting people, a high percentage of whom are young men, via dating apps and social networking sites. What happens is this; people make a “connection” with another person and it appears all very nice. Before long, however, the person at the other end suggests a move to a private chat room where they can continue their conversation. Once there, they will quickly manage to bring the chat around to requesting some naked images, either pics or videos. Now, one would think that this request should present as a Big Red Flag, warning of the strong possibility that something’s not quite right, but the number of people missing the flag completely is staggering, and the numbers are growing.
So what is it about a request from a complete stranger, asking for intimate images, that’s failing to alert people? Seriously, there is only one kind of person who does this, and you’ve just met one of them!
In the case of sextortion, once those images have been uploaded and captured at the other end, the sender will almost immediately begin to receive threats demanding either money, more images or both, with a warning that failure to comply will result in your naked pics being uploaded to the Internet. And it’s unlikely to stop should you pay up. As with any form of blackmail, it will go on and on.
This is the ugly reality of sending naked pics of yourself to anyone, or in allowing someone to take intimate pics or video footage of you. Regardless of who has snapped them or has possession of them, there are no guarantees that you images won’t end up being shared publicly via the Internet. It’s what happens. I guess the best filter here is to ask yourself if you would be okay with your family, your friends, your boss or you workmates, plus thousands of complete strangers seeing them. If the answer is “not on your life!” then don’t get your gear off in front of a lens. Just don’t do it.
Sextortion is one of the nastier ones doing the rounds at the moment and it is also a crime. If you have been caught by a sextorion racket, you need to report it to the authorities. But if not, then heed this as a warning. Do not give anyone access to naked images of yourself. Anyone at all, because you have no guarantee of privacy and no comeback if you willingly pose and it gets out there. Sextortion is possibly as bad as it can get.
You do not want to go there.