Prevent Campus Sexual Violence & Empower Survivors

The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) has created and published the 5 R’s of digital bystander intervention.  This new framework will prevent digital sexual violence. 

Digital sexual violence includes all forms of non-consensual explicit materials (NCEM).  This encompasses image-based sexual abuse, revenge pornography, deepfake/AI pornography, and child sexual abuse materials (formerly known as child porn).

As of 2023, over 98% of deepfakes on the internet were pornographic. There were over 500,000 deepfakes shared online in the past year and the number of deepfakes online is doubling every six months. Over 60% of adults report they have sent explicit photos.  Of those who have sent explicit photos, 23% are a victim of NCEM.  One study found that 10% of college women have been victims of NCEM. There have been cases of nonconsensual artificially generated explicit materials being made and distributed in K-12 schools across the country, including Washington, New Jersey, Florida, and Iowa.  In 2021, there were more 84.9 million images and videos of CSAM.

The SVPA created the 5 R’s of digital bystander intervention to prevent digital sexual violence.

Bystander intervention is when a witness to digital sexual violence, online abuse, or virtual harassment prevents it from continuing and/or helps the victim.  This is accomplished by noticing digital sexual violence, stepping in during an incident, and speaking out against ideas and behaviors that perpetuate rape culture.

The 5 R’s empower everyone online to be an active bystander while maintaining their safety. 

1. RESPOND:  Respond directly to the parties involved, if it is safe to do so. Call out negative behavior publicly, tell the perpetrator(s) to stop directly, or ask the victim if they are okay. Prioritize assisting the victim over debating the perpetrator.
2. REPORT:  Report digital sexual violence to the social media company, website, browser, or platform. If it is within a community, you can report it to a moderator. Alternatively, you can report it to administrators at your K12 school, college, or company. Lastly, you can report to the authorities.
3. RECORD:  Record what is happening by taking screenshots, videos, or writing it down. This is particularly important in situations that will involve the authorities, children, and/or a pattern of offenses. Make sure you do this in a way that is safe and in line with the law. 
4. REBUKE:  Rebuke digital sexual violence and challenge rape culture by calling it out and explaining why it is harmful. Keep in mind, reposting can amplify the harm by increasing visibility and engagement. It can also make you a target. Make sure you do so safely. For example, referencing the content in a separate post.
5. RESOURCE:  Reach out to the victim and offer resources or provide support. You can offer to provide information about how to get digital SV removed, offer to help them go to the authorities, or offer to help them make a report to the platform/moderators.

Your continued support of the SVPA empowers us to prevent sexual violence across the country. Thank you!

Links:

• 5 R's of Digital Bystander Intervention