The cyber flashing, for those who do not know the term, is a practice that unfortunately is becoming fashionable and that is what you receive on your mobile the photo of a penis or sexual scenes without your consent. It is the relay of those gentlemen with raincoats that showed their attributes without shame (and without permission) when you passed near them.
For my part, I have suffered both, and in addition to being humiliated and ashamed, I have felt an immediate repulsion at a practice that involves sexual harassment. Today, iPhone users can act with complete impunity thanks to the AirDrop function, which allows you to send all kinds of content between iOS and macOS devices in a simple way and with just one touch.
When someone tries to share with you through AirDrop, even if you reject the shipment, a preview of the photo appears on your mobile screen, so you have already seen something you did not want to see. They take advantage of crowded spaces to carry out the practice since there is always someone with the Bluetooth open, a victim to receive this type of image.
But Android users are not exempt from being able to receive this type of harassment, because there are other ways that use this kind of people to get their photos. Instagram is the other great niche, along with messaging applications such as whatsapp, where you can send this type of photos or videos without your consent in large WhatsApp groups or in a chat of someone you just met.
How do I prevent this type of sexual images from being sent to me?
By default, the AirDrop is configured to receive images and videos from anyone, so the first step is to change your iPhone’s settings to avoid the attack. The steps are simple: from settings, you access the general tab and then AirDrop. Once you are inside, select the option only contacts, for only those who know your mobile number can send you content through that route.
In the case of Instagram, it is best that you have a private profile so that only the people you decide can send you direct messages. Even if you receive friend requests, it will be you who decides if that person can see your posts and may or may not send you direct messages.
To do this you just have to go to your IG profile, click on the three lines that are next to your photo, and in settings, look for privacy. There you will have to, in the privacy of the account, dial private instead of public.
In the case of WhatsApp groups, for example, it is not that simple. At the moment the messaging application allows someone with your number to add you to a group without your consent and without you being able to do anything to avoid it, so the best solution if it is a group that you do not know and that you suspect is leaving Enter the chat. Swipe left, click on the one that appears and exits the group.
What do I do if I have already received sexual photos that I do not want?
The first thing you should do is to reject the image and change the configuration immediately so that you do not receive more similar images through AirDrop. Unfortunately, this practice still does not involve any crime, nor is there any way to find out among dozens of people with a smartphone in hand who has been the culprit.
In the case of IG, it is best that once you have received the attack, report the assailant and then block him. From his Instagram profile, in the upper right, you click and the two options are displayed.
And if it’s WhatsApp, blocking will be the best. You just have to go set up, account and then privacy. There you have an option that is blocked, within which you can include the number of that person from whom you do not want to receive a photo.
Only in New York City, and after knowing how this practice of sexual harassment is becoming more frequent, an initiative has been launched to change existing legislation and add to the law that prohibits harassment or threats to someone for any Another form of written communication (telephone, telegraph or postal mail), this practice is also included.
