In the span of just a few days, the "Veronica Bridge video" went from an obscure piece of online content to a viral sensation, racking up hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter and sparking heated debates about privacy, consent, and the ethics of sharing explicit footage. But the uncomfortable truth is that the spread of non-consensual pornography (NCP) is far from a new or isolated incident.
A 2020 study by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative found that nearly 9% of online users have had someone threaten to post their nude or sexual images without their consent, and 14% have actually had their intimate content posted without permission. For victims, the impact can be devastating.
"NCP is a form of sexual abuse that can lead to PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation," explains Dr. Asia Eaton, Professor of Psychology at Florida International University and Head of Research for the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. "Victims often face severe harassment, damage to their reputation, and professional consequences when their intimate images are spread online."
As disturbing as those statistics are, experts warn that the problem is only getting worse thanks to advanced technologies like deepfakes, which allow bad actors to create realistic fake pornographic videos of individuals without their knowledge or consent.
"We‘re seeing a surge in deepfake porn targeting both ordinary individuals and celebrities," says Mary Anne Franks, Professor of Law at the University of Miami and President of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. "This technology makes it easier than ever to violate someone‘s sexual privacy and autonomy with the click of a button."
The Viral Voyeurism of the Veronica Bridge Video
So what is it about the Veronica Bridge video that captivated the attention of so many online spectators? At its core, the clip taps into the primal human instinct of voyeurism – the desire to observe others, often in intimate or compromising situations, without being seen.
"There‘s a thrill that comes from peeking behind the curtain and seeing something you‘re not supposed to see," explains Dr. David Ley, Clinical Psychologist and author of the book "Insatiable Wives: Women Who Stray and the Men Who Love Them." "It activates the same reward circuits in the brain as other risky or taboo behaviors."
However, the fact that the video was presumably filmed and shared without the consent of the woman involved adds an even more troubling layer to the voyeuristic allure. For some viewers, the violation of another person‘s privacy and agency becomes part of the sick appeal.
"When non-consensual content is framed as ‘leaked‘ or ‘forbidden,‘ it can actually make it more tantalizing to certain individuals," says Ley. "They derive a sense of power and transgression from consuming something that was not meant for public consumption."
The Futility of Playing Whack-a-Mole with NSFW Content
Despite the clear ethical issues with sharing NCP, platforms like Twitter and Reddit often struggle to keep up with the sheer volume of NSFW content being posted every day. Moderation teams are understaffed and overwhelmed, leaving them to play a never-ending game of whack-a-mole as they try to remove violating posts as quickly as possible.
"There‘s simply too much content for human moderators to review manually," explains Sarah T. Roberts, PhD, Assistant Professor of Information Studies at UCLA and author of "Behind the Screen: Content Moderation in the Shadows of Social Media." "Automated systems can help flag potential violations, but they‘re far from perfect. Many NSFW posts slip through the cracks, especially if they‘re not explicitly reported by users."
Even when non-consensual content is successfully removed, it can easily resurface on other platforms or be re-uploaded by other accounts. This perpetual cycle of removal and re-posting can make it nearly impossible for victims to ever truly scrub their intimate images from the web.
"Once something is posted online, it‘s incredibly difficult to put that genie back in the bottle," says Roberts. "Even if the original post is taken down, copies of the content can spread far and wide, haunting victims for years to come."
The Legal Landscape of Non-Consensual Porn
In recent years, a growing number of states have enacted laws criminalizing the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. As of 2021, 48 states and the District of Columbia have passed some form of NCP legislation, although the specifics of these laws can vary widely.
"While it‘s encouraging to see more states recognizing the seriousness of this issue, many of the existing laws have significant loopholes or limitations," explains Franks. "Some only apply to content shared by ex-partners, while others have outdated definitions of ‘intimate‘ that fail to include things like deepfakes or digitally altered images."
At the federal level, the SHIELD Act (Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution) was introduced in Congress in 2019 to establish a national ban on the non-consensual sharing of intimate content. However, the bill has yet to be passed into law.
"We need clear, comprehensive legislation that treats NCP as a form of sexual abuse and provides real recourse for victims," says Franks. "Until there are serious legal consequences for perpetrators, this problem will continue to metastasize."
Teaching Digital Citizenship and Consent
While strengthening laws and platform policies is crucial, experts also stress the importance of proactive education to prevent NCP incidents from happening in the first place. This starts with teaching digital citizenship and consent from an early age.
"We need to be educating young people about the realities of the digital world and the permanence of online content," says Dr. Eaton. "That includes lessons on respecting others‘ privacy, asking for consent before sharing intimate content, and being an upstander when you see someone‘s rights being violated."
Parents and educators can play a key role in these efforts by having open, honest conversations with kids about online safety and responsible digital behavior. Schools can also incorporate digital citizenship curricula that cover topics like sexting, online harassment, and the importance of consent.
"It‘s not enough to just tell kids not to send nudes," says Eaton. "We need to equip them with the knowledge and skills to navigate intimate relationships in the digital age in a way that is safe, ethical, and respectful."
A Call to Action
The viral spread of the Veronica Bridge video is a stark reminder of how easily non-consensual content can be weaponized and exploited online. It‘s a wake-up call for all of us to take a hard look at our own digital behavior and commit to being better digital citizens.
If you come across intimate content that you suspect was shared without consent, don‘t repost or share it further. Report it to the platform and encourage others to do the same. If you or someone you know has been a victim of NCP, know that you are not alone and there are resources available to help, such as the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative‘s Crisis Helpline.
Ultimately, stemming the tide of non-consensual content online will require a coordinated effort from lawmakers, tech platforms, educators, and everyday users alike. We all have a role to play in creating a safer, more ethical digital world. The Veronica Bridge video may have gone viral, but together we can ensure that non-consensual content doesn‘t have to be an inevitable part of the online experience.
