Cyberflashing

About

Cyberflashing or Cyber-Flashing is a slang term defining the practice of sending unsolicited lewd images, i.e. dick pics, to nearby strangers using the "AirDrop" function on iPhones or Bluetooth features on other devices, which often occurs in public spaces, transportation or airplanes. The term has also been broadened over the years to include the act of sending unwanted sexual images of oneself to people online via in-app or in-game messaging systems. The increasing prevalence of the practice has led to calls for it to be criminalized around the world, and several countries have made the practice illegal since the term was defined in 2015.

Origin

The first instance of cyberflashing covered by the media occurred around August 13th, 2015, when a British female transit rider was AirDropped two dick pics by a stranger while on her commute.^[1] As the woman did not accept the pictures, police were unable to prosecute the offender and recommended that should such an incident occur, recipients should save the images and report the activity to authorities.

Police also identified the methodology used by the perpetrator. On iPhones, AirDrop is automatically set to "contacts only," meaning only those known to a user can AirDrop them materials. The user in this case had set the AirDrop function to "everyone" at a certain point, leaving her open to receiving the unsolicited pictures.

Spread

Several cyberflashing incidents have garnered media attention since 2015 as the practice and term became more widespread. The New York Post reported on two incidents, also on a subway train, in August 2017.^[2] The same week, a Huffington Post reporter^[3] reported they'd been cyberflashed and that the trend was going underreported to authorities.

The growing frequency of the trend led several countries to implement laws criminalizing the act. New South Wales criminalized cyberflashing in 2017,^[5] while Singapore criminalized cyberflashing in 2019, making it a crime punishable by up to two years in prison.^[4] Organizations in the United States, such as the National Organization For Women, have also supported making cyberflashing a crime.^[6]

On August 13th, 2020, the YouTube^[8] channel Context uploaded a video on the topic explaining the practice and how it was growing. The video (seen below), received over 13,300 views and 100 likes in roughly two years.

@daddystrange333 TikTok Viral Video

On June 25th, 2022, TikToker @daddystrange333 posted a viral video on the platform where she accused a man of AirDropping pictures of his penis to herself and several other passengers aboard a flight (seen below).

The man, identified as "Larry," was then approached by flight attendants where he appeared to admit to the act. A follow-up TikTok posted by daddystrange333 says that she and other passengers were visited by the FBI and that Larry was also arrested by the FBI.^[7]

Search Interest

External References