Rape has long been classed as a crime of violence and control, and recent virtual assaults (on Second Life and AutoAdmit) have people talking about the long-term effects of Virtual Rape. Women who have been 'assaulted' online report feelings of being threatened, devalued and demeaned and it has impacted their daily lives leaving them 'violated'.
Whether virtual rape can be classed as a true crime is now being called into question. But the impact that that the world wide web has had on our interactions, relationships and daily life cannot be denied.
Virtual Rape and Cyber Assaults
Yes, The World is Messed Up
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Assault - Creating ethical and legal frameworks to address virtual assaults and their impact.
2. Online Harassment - Developing preventative measures and support resources to combat online harassment and its negative impact.
3. Digital Trauma - Researching solutions to address the emotional trauma experienced by victims of virtual assaults.
Industry Implications
1. Cybersecurity - Developing specialized cybersecurity protocols and technologies to protect individuals from virtual assaults.
2. Mental Health - Creating more accessible and specialized mental health resources to address the psychological effects of virtual assaults.
3. Legal - Developing laws and regulations to hold perpetrators of virtual assaults accountable and provide legal avenues for victims.