Bystanders

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.