Sex and Psychology Podcast Episode 159: ‘Slut Pages’ and Revenge Porn
As many as 1 in 3 college students in the United States may be participating in “slut pages.” Slut pages are part of a digital underground world in which nude or partially nude photos and videos of women are shared without their consent. These pages are sometimes a form of revenge porn, but they can also be a twisted game in which people are awarded points for obtaining nude photos of specific women. So how common are slut pages? Why do people participate in them? And how can we stop online sexual harassment? Let’s talk about it.
I am joined today by Dr. Megan Maas, an assistant professor in Human Development & Family Studies at Michigan State University. Her award-winning research, recognized by the American Psychological Association, and funded by the National Institutes of Health, focuses on media impacts on adolescents’ sexual and mental health. Some of the topics we discuss include:
- What is a “slut page”?
- How are slut pages and revenge porn similar or different?
- How common are slut pages, and what draws people to them?
- Why are women sometimes active participants in the slut-shaming of other women?
- How does being the target of a slut page affect someone’s mental health?
- What should someone do if they discover a slut page or revenge porn about them? And what can we do to prevent online sexual harassment?
Be sure to check out Megan’s website to learn more about her, and follow her on Twitter @MeganKMaas.
Are you a victim of image-based sexual abuse online? Here are some organizations that may be able to help:
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.