If you’re dating and haven’t succumbed to sexting yet you’re one of a lucky few. Sending sexy photos is woven into modern relationships and love it or hate it, it seems to be here to stay.
Unfortunately there’s more than just double chins and cheeky shadows to worry about. Online safety and privacy are a growing problem but there’s no point in telling people not to sext. It’s going to happen regardless so Felix is here to help Londoners stay safe while showing off their sexy selves.
Watermarks
A recent sexting suggestion went viral after a woman recommended watermarking any sextual photos with the recipient’s name. Got an urge to send Sam something salacious? Want to show Jamie your bum or more? Make sure their name is emblazoned across the photo where it can’t be cropped out.
A watermark will put someone off sharing the photo and if they do you’ll be able to trace it back quickly. That will make it much easier should you want the police to get involved. Apps like PhotoMarkr, iWatermark and eZy Watermark lite can quickly and easily watermark your selfies before you send them. There are also apps like iVideoMark that will watermark – surprise, surprise – your videos.
It might seem a little strange at first but it’s an extra level of security that might make all the difference.
The problem, of course, is that stamping a watermark in the photo could be seen as a lack of trust in the recipient, when that trust is part of the intimacy and thrill of the whole exercise.
Don’t face the music
The biggest rule to photo safety is the simplest: no faces. You want to make sure there’s no way to connect the image with you if it does get shared.
Of course no one wants their body or actions spread online but you can’t guarantee it won’t be. After all, Tinder isn’t exactly famed for honesty and integrity.
While you’ll immediately recognise your body others won’t and it’s a lot easier to deny your identity if your face isn’t in shot. Tattoos and birthmarks are identifying markers so do your best to avoid having them in shot.
Know your app
We all know that nothing is secret in this day and age. Snapchat might say it deletes photos but any message that’s sent through a server-based app does get stored. iCloud and Dropbox can automatically back up photos from your phone without you even realising and suddenly it’s not just you and your sexting squeeze who have your booty shots.
Most apps and clouds aren’t as secure as you think, which is how celebrities get burned. If you’re determined to send nudes, look into messaging apps Bleep or Disckreet. Bleep avoids using clouds or servers that can be easily hacked while Disckreet locks everything in a file with two passwords – one for you, one for your partner.
Both of you have to enter your passwords for the pics to be accessed. It also means you can safely hand over your phone to family and friends without fear of swiping.
Delete, delete, delete
At the end of the day sexting will never be entirely safe – there’s always risk involved. We’d advise you get to know and trust your partner in selfie porn but we all know that’s not going to happen. Sometimes you just want some fun wth no strings attached and getting to know their level of moral rectitude isn’t exactly a turn-on.
What you can do is delete images – yours and theirs. One of the problems with sexting strangers is that you can never be sure they are who they say and age is the biggest issue. Sending and receiving pictures of anyone under 18 is illegal – even underage sexters sending photos of their own bodies can be charged with distributing child pornography.
The best way to stay safe from any kind of accidental illegality is to delete any photos after your session. They aren’t holiday snaps: you’re not going to look back at that stranger’s genitalia close-up with any kind of fondness.
Many of us think forwarding someone’s sexy shots to mates is strange or shameless but I know plenty of women whose friends have forwarded an unsolicited dick pic for a laugh in a WhatsApp chat (also in no way secure). If any of those Tinder travesties happens to be underage, everyone’s in big trouble.
Consensual is cool
Sexting should not only be consensual but most of all it should be something for you. If it doesn’t get you hot under the collar, find a different way to express your interest. If it makes you uncomfortable, don’t do it. You wouldn’t agree to have sex if you weren’t 100% on board so why sext? Plenty of us have had bad sexual encounters but at least (God willing) they’re over quickly – a pornographic picture can haunt you for life.
by Jo Davey
The post Dating: Guide to Sexting Safely appeared first on Felix Magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment