Why “Revenge Porn” Is a Problematic Term

Revenge pornography is not about revenge, and it is not even about pornography, for that matter.

You may have heard the term “revenge porn” used to describe situations where a person’s private, explicit images are published or otherwise shared without their consent. This is an egregious violation of a victim’s right to privacy. It is largely about an online abuser’s ability to exert power and control over the well-being of their victim.

The Problem With the Phrase “Revenge Porn”

In my opinion, the term “revenge porn” implies that an ex-partner posted private, intimate images without consent because the victim did something to upset them. It frames the abuse as an act of retaliation.

This framing is inappropriate. It implies that the victim did something to deserve revenge. Worse, it fails to account for other forms of digital sexual abuse where there is no spite, no clear intent to harm, and no direct motive of retaliation.

Abuse Without Revenge

As an attorney working with victims of digital abuse, I have seen many different scenarios.

There are cases where partners shared images with friends without their partner’s consent and without intending to hurt anyone. There are cases where hackers stole and sold images online for financial gain. And yes, there are also cases where a vengeful ex deliberately published explicit images to humiliate or control their partner.

The psychological damage caused by non-consensual image distribution is well documented. These harms occur regardless of whether the abuser intended to cause pain. Intent does not equal impact.

Legal Hurdles for Victims

Unfortunately, the need to prove malicious intent has been written into law in many states. This creates a heavy burden on victims, forcing them to prove that the person who shared their private content did so with the purpose of harassing, injuring, or mistreating them.

This standard overlooks the fact that the damage is done whether the abuser intended harm or not. And it often makes legal recourse even more difficult for survivors.

Why It Shouldn’t Be Called Pornography

Labeling non-consensual explicit content as “pornography” is also problematic.

It erases and harms the rights of sex workers and adults who do consent to the creation and distribution of their content. Pornography, when created ethically and consensually, is legal and constitutionally protected speech.

By equating non-consensual material with pornography, we normalize and legitimize it. It becomes a genre. This encourages people to create, distribute, and even seek out this kind of abusive content.

Image-based sexual abuse is a crime. It is a crime not because of what is shown in the image, but because the person in the image never gave consent for it to be shared.

Better Terms We Should Be Using

Instead of “revenge porn,” we should be using terms like:

• Non-consensual image sharing
• Image-based sexual abuse
• Cyber sexual exploitation

These terms more accurately describe what is happening and avoid the misleading implications of revenge and pornography.

However, “revenge porn” is still widely used in legal language and popular media. That means victims may not know the more accurate terms when they search for help. In my own work, I try to use accessible language that people understand, while also introducing the more accurate alternatives.

Words Shape Our Understanding

We need to be clear about one thing. Pornography is consensual and legal. Sharing explicit content without consent is abuse. Sharing explicit content involving minors is also abuse. These are not forms of pornography. And they should never be treated as such.

The words we use shape the way we think. They influence our values and our understanding of right and wrong. I hope the term “revenge pornography” eventually fades into disuse as better language takes its place.

Need Help With Image-Based Abuse?

If someone has shared intimate photos or videos of you without your consent, you have options. Minc Law helps victims of non-consensual image abuse quickly and discreetly remove damaging content and hold abusers accountable.

Contact us today to speak with our experienced legal team and take the first step toward reclaiming your privacy and peace of mind.