Image-based abuse — bystanders
Bystanders have an important role to play in combatting image-based abuse.
Bystanders to image-based abuse
- 19% of online Australians 18+ received a nude or sexual image/video that was shared without the consent of the person depicted or they were unsure of consent
Younger people were more likely to be bystanders
- 22% of women 18 to 45, 9% of women 46+
- 28% of men 18 to 45, 16% of men 46+
How did bystanders feel when receiving image-based abuse material?
- Uncomfortable, 40%
- OK with it, 18%
- Angry, 17%
- Annoyed, 16%
- Nothing, 15%
- Thought it was funny, 7%
What actions did bystanders take?
- 44% didn’t do or say anything
- 34% said something (not specified) to the person who shared the photo/video
- 9% prefer not to say
- 7% wanted to say or do something, but didn’t know what
- 7% told the person in the photo/video
- 3% reported it to a relevant authority
- 1% sought advice from others
Source: Research commissioned by eSafety, May 2017. Respondents comprised 3,216 online women aged 15+ and 903 online men aged 18+ in Australia.
