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Rebecca

Rebecca becomes upset when her new friend on Instagram threatens to share her intimate photos without her consent. Rebecca and her disability support worker talk about the help available to her.

This personal story shows how women with intellectual or cognitive disability can experience technology-facilitated abuse. It covers available support pathways – to help disability specialists and frontline workers in the domestic and family violence sectors support clients to manage technology-facilitated abuse.

The story is inspired by real events and the characters are played by actors.

eSafety has developed dedicated resources for disability workers.

Visual Audio

Click here to watch this video with Audio Description.

Rebecca’s story – transcript of audio

Rebecca: It’s hard to make friends after high school. I’m not sure how much my disability plays into this. But I mean, you can’t just go and ask someone ‘hey, wanna be friends’? 
Support worker: Yep, and that’s how you create an account. Now you can share your photos. Here’s the animal rights account you wanted to follow.
Rebecca: Hey, can you be my back up, until I know I’m using this Instagram thing, right?
Support worker: No worries, anytime. Next time when I’m over we can go through it together.
Rebecca: Wow, he’s cute.
Rebecca: Tom makes me laugh and loves animals just like me. And it’s nice to have someone to chat with and I really like getting his messages.
Rebecca: Hello… this is new.
Support worker: How’s Instagram going? Meet anyone nice?
Rebecca: A few people.
Support worker: Like who?
Rebecca: Well… there is this one guy.
Rebecca: I’m not sure. He sent me one… should I send one back? After all we are friends…right? 
Rebecca: I trusted him. He tricked me into sending a nude. I feel so stupid.
Support worker: Bec, this is not OK.  Is Tom threatening you? Has he shared your private photos? 
Rebecca: I thought the photos were just for him.  I don’t want him showing them to others.  
Support worker: About what you said the other day. I did some training with eSafety about this. This is called image-based abuse.  It’s not OK for him to share or threaten to share your nude or intimate photos without your consent. You can say no to someone even if they’re your friend. They shouldn’t force you to do something that you’re not OK with. 
Rebecca: I don’t want anyone to see these photos. 
Support worker: We can report it to eSafety if you want.
Rebecca: Yes, I want the photos taken down.  
Support worker: Why don’t we take screenshots of Tom’s threats and his username, so we have evidence.  
Rebecca: We contacted eSafety. They said I should stop all contact with Tom, so I blocked him. eSafety reported Tom’s account to Instagram who took it down.   
Rebecca: Alice, can you help me go through my followers? I’d like to get rid of everyone I don’t know well. And let’s change my account to private.
Rebecca: I feel safer using my social media now.
 

Rebecca's story

Audio

Rebecca’s story – transcript of audio

Rebecca: It’s hard to make friends after high school. I’m not sure how much my disability plays into this. But I mean, you can’t just go and ask someone ‘hey, wanna be friends’? 
Support worker: Yep, and that’s how you create an account. Now you can share your photos. Here’s the animal rights account you wanted to follow.
Rebecca: Hey, can you be my back up, until I know I’m using this Instagram thing, right?
Support worker: No worries, anytime. Next time when I’m over we can go through it together.
Rebecca: Wow, he’s cute.
Rebecca: Tom makes me laugh and loves animals just like me. And it’s nice to have someone to chat with and I really like getting his messages.
Rebecca: Hello… this is new.
Support worker: How’s Instagram going? Meet anyone nice?
Rebecca: A few people.
Support worker: Like who?
Rebecca: Well… there is this one guy.
Rebecca: I’m not sure. He sent me one… should I send one back? After all we are friends…right? 
Rebecca: I trusted him. He tricked me into sending a nude. I feel so stupid.
Support worker: Bec, this is not OK.  Is Tom threatening you? Has he shared your private photos? 
Rebecca: I thought the photos were just for him.  I don’t want him showing them to others.  
Support worker: About what you said the other day. I did some training with eSafety about this. This is called image-based abuse.  It’s not OK for him to share or threaten to share your nude or intimate photos without your consent. You can say no to someone even if they’re your friend. They shouldn’t force you to do something that you’re not OK with. 
Rebecca: I don’t want anyone to see these photos. 
Support worker: We can report it to eSafety if you want.
Rebecca: Yes, I want the photos taken down.  
Support worker: Why don’t we take screenshots of Tom’s threats and his username, so we have evidence.  
Rebecca: We contacted eSafety. They said I should stop all contact with Tom, so I blocked him. eSafety reported Tom’s account to Instagram who took it down.   
Rebecca: Alice, can you help me go through my followers? I’d like to get rid of everyone I don’t know well. And let’s change my account to private.
Rebecca: I feel safer using my social media now.


 

Rebecca's story - Audio Description

Visual Audio

Click here to watch this video with Audio Description.

Rebecca’s story – transcript of audio

Rebecca: It’s hard to make friends after high school. I’m not sure how much my disability plays into this. But I mean, you can’t just go and ask someone ‘hey, wanna be friends’? 
Support worker: Yep, and that’s how you create an account. Now you can share your photos. Here’s the animal rights account you wanted to follow.
Rebecca: Hey, can you be my back up, until I know I’m using this Instagram thing, right?
Support worker: No worries, anytime. Next time when I’m over we can go through it together.
Rebecca: Wow, he’s cute.
Rebecca: Tom makes me laugh and loves animals just like me. And it’s nice to have someone to chat with and I really like getting his messages.
Rebecca: Hello… this is new.
Support worker: How’s Instagram going? Meet anyone nice?
Rebecca: A few people.
Support worker: Like who?
Rebecca: Well… there is this one guy.
Rebecca: I’m not sure. He sent me one… should I send one back? After all we are friends…right? 
Rebecca: I trusted him. He tricked me into sending a nude. I feel so stupid.
Support worker: Bec, this is not OK.  Is Tom threatening you? Has he shared your private photos? 
Rebecca: I thought the photos were just for him.  I don’t want him showing them to others.  
Support worker: About what you said the other day. I did some training with eSafety about this. This is called image-based abuse.  It’s not OK for him to share or threaten to share your nude or intimate photos without your consent. You can say no to someone even if they’re your friend. They shouldn’t force you to do something that you’re not OK with. 
Rebecca: I don’t want anyone to see these photos. 
Support worker: We can report it to eSafety if you want.
Rebecca: Yes, I want the photos taken down.  
Support worker: Why don’t we take screenshots of Tom’s threats and his username, so we have evidence.  
Rebecca: We contacted eSafety. They said I should stop all contact with Tom, so I blocked him. eSafety reported Tom’s account to Instagram who took it down.   
Rebecca: Alice, can you help me go through my followers? I’d like to get rid of everyone I don’t know well. And let’s change my account to private.
Rebecca: I feel safer using my social media now.

Rebecca's story - Auslan

Stay safe

If you are feeling unsafe right now, call the police on Triple Zero (000) or contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Remember your safety is important. If an abusive person learns that you are seeking resources and information, their abusive behaviour may get worse. Learn more and connect with support.

Last updated: 08/10/2024