This browser does not support the Video element.
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - They are seemingly innocent pictures you see them all the time on social media, but pictures--many of local college women--were lifted without the owners' knowledge. The pictures were then posted on an app called Discord in one of its forums called 'In Real Life Girls'.
Here's the creepy part the forum encourages viewers to print out private pictures, record fondling themselves with the photos and repost the video. The women had no idea their photos were being posted.
Temple students on campus are just hearing that one of their own classmates may be behind distributing the photos. Revealed during a string of tweets warning fellow female students. It says a classmate who we are not naming is using their social media photos on the pornographic site.
Within a couple hours replies poured in from other Temple students who confirmed their pictures were used.
One tweet said, "I'm featured in at least 4 photos."
Another from a student at Penn State said, "My photos are also on this site." And this one,, "5 of my photos from my private instagram are posted by him"
According to the tweets, at least 70 women and counting have been identified in the photos
In a statement Temple University tells FOX 29 they are investigating and "The safety and well-being of our students is out top priority. When we receive reports that any student feels unsafe for threatened, we investigate promptly and take appropriate action as quickly as possible."
According the Pew Research Center, 21% of women 18-to-29 have been sexually harassed online. For students it's another tough lesson in the world of social media.
For more information:
http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/07/11/online-harassment-2017/