We’ve all been there — the shameful moment when you see an embarrassing image or video of yourself floating around on social media.
For most, a snap of you headfirst in a bin on a wild night out or one of you in bed with a colourful range of obscenities scrawled onto your forehead, can be laughed off with friends the morning after.
But in what circumstances is it right to post images of someone, perhaps a stranger, on the internet without their consent or knowledge?
Last week, Kevin Bollaert, 28, from San Diego was sentenced to 18 years in prison for operating a ‘revenge porn’ website where he charged victims up to $350 to have their nude photos removed from the website.
With tighter laws being enforced on what we post online, the internet is no longer the unruly free haven it was once considered to be both legally and socially.
Also back in February, a video emerged of a man and woman (who were believed to be married/engaged to other people) engaging in sexual activities in an office. while a member of the public filmed from the streets below.
The video entitled ‘New Zealand Couple’s Office Sex Romp Caught on Camera’ was filmed by a member of the public from the streets below and uploaded to YouTube. Needless to say it went viral.
Since the woman in the video is said to have given up her job and hopes of a new life in New Zealand and moved back to the UK.
What has happened to her lover and his family?
This raises the question of whether it was fair to publicise a video of a sexual nature where the people involved are easily identifiable.
The filmer may not have known what the implications would be or that this video would have severe consequences for the pair and their families, but even if they had not been having an affair they did not consent to the whole world watching them in the throws of passion
These are just two examples of the public shaming that is so prevalent on social media these days.
MM took to the streets of Manchester to find out who you think is more in the wrong, the person emabarrassing themselves in public or the one snapping pics or filming without their knowledge?
We asked the question:
Is it was ever okay to share embarrassing images or videos of people online?
| Yes | No |
| 34% | 66% |
Emma Stansfield, 22, who is currently in-between jobs and originally from Heywood, thinks it is one thing to have a bit of a laugh and another to ruin somebody’s reputation.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS: Emma believes you have to know what is appropriate and what isn’t
She said: “I think it’s okay to publicly embarrass people on social media if it’s done in the right manner.
“Obviously if something which could damage the reputation of someone then it shouldn’t be done.
“For example putting up a photo of someone pulling a silly face is nowhere near as bad as the New Zealand video.”
Gillian Taylor, 43, also from Heywood, was less forgiving than Emma, saying people know exactly what they’re up when they post things online.
“I believe people have every intention in what they are doing when they upload distressing videos or images eople are not that ignorant,” she said.
NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE: Gillian thinks that people know the consequences of posting images online
“If you didn’t want to get someone into trouble or embarrass them on Facebook or Twitter, you wouldn’t post it there.”
Josh Wright, 23, a games designer in Manchester, takes a different approach to the concept of publicly humiliation on social media.
He said: “If you do something that publicly humiliates you and your family or can damage your career, then you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.
THINK BEFORE YOU ACT: Josh, 23, thinks the fault lies with the couple being filmed
“After seeing that video, the least they could have done was turn the lights off! – It must have been awful for their families to see that and what they have gone through mustn’t be pleasant.”
Diane Proffitt, 50, who works in Wigan, agreed with Josh about what can happen online.
“It’s a dangerous place to be [on the internet], you have to be extremely careful about what ends up on there as it can put your future in dispute,” she said.
NOT GOOD FOR THE CV: Diane believes people should keep their online profiles clean for employability
“If a future employee saw a photo of you being inappropriate or a video of you breaking the law then it’s going to impact on your life.”
Her husband David Proffitt, 52, originally from Manchester, said that he didn’t have sympathy with people who get humiliated online.
He said: “If you do something silly and daft and your friends are filming it then you should recalculate who your friends are.”
NO SYMPATHY: David doesn’t feel sorry for those caught up in online drama
Curtis Rigby, a 22-year-old student in Manchester, agreed with David that it would take a vbad friend to post something embarrassing of you on social media.
But he also mentioned that he chooses to treat people the way he expects to be treated.
He said: “I wouldn’t want anyone to put anything humiliating of me on Facebook, so I don’t do it!
“You wouldn’t have a good set of friends if they put something really awful up online.”
GOOD FRIENDS: Curtis feels that your friends should always have your best interest at heart
For Chelsea Taylor, 21, from Middleton, there is a clear line that people chose to cross, but that sometimes that choice is warranted.
She said: “I think there’s a firm choice when putting something up as bad as someone having an affair online.
“You know it will get people in trouble and if someone has hatred or anger towards them and wants to get their own back then why should they stop?
“If they’ve been hurt and humiliated by their partner or friend then why should they be exempt from the same treatment?”
KARMA: Chelsea thinks you have a right to get someone back by uploading embarrassing content if they’ve done you wrong
Nathan Spencer, a 20-year-old Manchester student agreed with Cheslea, saying: “If I was hurt by someone so much to the point I wanted revenge, I’m sure it would be very tempting to put something up online to make them feel how I felt.”
REVENGE: Nathan admitted that he would feel tempted to upload images online in the name of revenge
However, Lee Haliday, 21, who works for a Manchester engineering firm disagreed with them both.
“It doesn’t matter how much someone hurt you, you shouldn’t do something that could cause far greater harm,” he said.
“If you caught your partner cheating on video, and you posting this video meant all their children’s friends at school could see the video.
“They would have to live knowing all their friends have seen their mum or dad cheat, it would have such a big impact, mentally, on children’s lives.”
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE: Lee thinks that people should consider innocent victims like children and relatives
And Rochdale resident Liam Lindsay, 24, said: “If you don’t want to face humiliation, don’t commit the humiliating act, it’s as simple as that.”
SIMPLE MESSAGE: Liam from Rochdale believes you should think before you act
