Understanding and Preventing Image-Based Sexual Abuse
Psychology Today | 09.02.2026 00:33
Today, digital life is real life. So when intimate images are created or shared without consent, the harm is embodied, multifaceted, and often enduring (McGlynn et al., 2020). Survivors of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) describe a form of violence that can continue indefinitely because the material can reappear, be redistributed, or be weaponized in new settings. Survivors have reported that even leaving jobs or changing addresses does not necessarily help them escape the abuse. Below are four insights and action steps from psychology that clarify why IBSA spreads, and what actually helps to prevent it.
