Some interesting news came out of YNOT’s home state of Texas this past weekend. According to Fox 4 News, starting this past Saturday, sending an unsolicited nude – or, “cyber flashing” — in Texas is now a Class C misdemeanor. Violators will be subject to fines of up to $500.

Interestingly, this new law is the product of a collaboration between Dallas Rep. Morgan Meyer and the Austin-based company, Bumble. Yes, Bumble — as in the social and dating app wherein ladies must make the first contact with matched men. (I am assuming either woman can reach out first in same-gender pairings, though I don’t know for sure.)

According to Fox 4 News, Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd approached Meyer about crafting the measure.

Meyer explained that, “[Bumble] had a number of people who were using the app complaining about the sending of these images, and they quickly realized there was no recourse… There was nothing that could be done. It wasn’t a criminal offense, although it was definitely digital sexual harassment.”

Via Fox 4 News, Meyer said the law will apply to text messages, email, dating apps and social media.

Per Jezebel, this law is an interesting one because it doesn’t hinge on the sender’s intention — meaning, the intention to sexually harass. For instance, one may simply be trying to disclose the goods, something akin to sharing biographical information or demographics with a potential new partner. This is not the same intention as sexually harassing, but in the case of this new law intention does not matter.

Jezebel wrote that, “though a number of states have laws regulating digital sexual harassment… a sender doesn’t have to actively be attempt[ing] to harass someone to be subjected to the law. If, for instance, you meet someone on… Bumble, give them your phone number, and get a dick pic instead of a nice text saying hello, they can be fined.”

Interesting!

A 2017 survey by Pew Research Center found women encounter sexual harassment online at much higher rates than men. The study found twenty-one percent of women ages 18 to 29 report being sexually harassed online compared to only nine percent of men in the same age group. Roughly fifty-three percent of those women said someone had sent them explicit images they didn’t ask for.

Though it’s detailed about image receiving, the Pew Study does not state who is doing the actual image sending. I am guessing it’s mostly men, but who knows? It’s possible that women could also be sending out unsolicited nudes, vag snatching or “booby bombing” the feeds of chaste men (and women) seeking love online — possible, but not likely.

Via Fox 4, Caroline Ellis Roche, Bumble’s Chief of Staff, said the company plans to take the legislation to the federal level and other states in hopes of enacting it more broadly. Roche added that Bumble understands enforcing the law will be difficult. At this point, the legislation is simply intended to serve as a deterrent — and for that alone, I am sure many people are grateful.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels.