Supporting Youth Affected by Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence

What is Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (T-FSV)?

‘Sexual violence’ is an all-encompassing term that refers to acts of sexual assault and harassment that target a person’s sexuality, gender identity or expression. Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (T-FSV) is a form of sexual violence perpetrated through digital tools and technologies, oftentimes by an anonymous person but can be someone the youth knows. T-FSV includes acts such as online harassment, sharing intimate images without consent, cyberflashing, online sexual manipulation and/or coercion, and sextortion.

Types of T-FSV:

Online Sexual Harassment:

• Definition: Using online communications (for example, texts or direct messages – DMs) to repeatedly ask for sexual interactions and/or other unwanted sexual communication.
• Example: Persistently sending unsolicited sexual messages or images despite being told to stop.

Intimate Image Sharing:

• Definition: Sharing sexual images without consent.
• Example: Sending someone’s intimate photos with other people or posting the photos on social media/the internet without their permission.

Cyberflashing:

• Definition: Sending someone sexual photos or messages without their consent, often through Bluetooth or AirDrop transfers between devices.
• Example: Receiving an unexpected and explicit image from a stranger via AirDrop in a public space.

Online Sexual Manipulation:

• Definition: Convincing or pressuring someone to send something that involves sexual content (for example, messages or images).
• Example: Coercing someone to send nude photos by pretending to be a romantic interest.

Sextortion:

• Definition: Coercing and/or tricking someone into sending sexual images or engaging in sexual acts online, then making a demand such as for money, more images, or other demands.
• Example: Threatening to release someone’s intimate photo(s) unless they pay the demander a sum of money.