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Taylor Swift, Deepfake Porn and the Law
As the article explains, there is no federal law against this in the US. There are some state laws, but they’re not very effective. The problem is that we’ve always treated sexual abuse materials as criminal because, as the saying goes, behind every photo is a child being abused. With deepfakes, though, the abuse isn’t happening. So when a teen girl is the subject of deepfake porn, she was never sexually assaulted, so there’s no crime.
There’s a lot of harm, though. In the case of a celebrity, it might be reputational harm. In the case of teenagers, that fake can turn into blackmail, bullying, and all the mental health issues that go along with that. (The same is true of adults, but we know how vulnerable teens are to this and how this too often ends.)
Sharing – Five tips on setting boundaries for your mental health
The other thing to keep in mind is that no one else is going to set the boundaries for you that you need. They will set the boundaries that they want for you. That includes family, friends, and employers. They won’t know the limits of your mental health, and they may not even care about them. Some will, but you still need to draw them yourself and then communicate them.
And, maybe. most of all, allow everyone to set their boundaries and respect them. Maybe we could all get some improved mental health if we all understood that a little bit better.
Sharing – If You Want to Build Community, You Have to “Waste Time” with People
The pity is that I prioritize this so little in my personal life. I’m constantly trying to “squeeze” in time with friends between work and other interests, and then wondering why my sense of personal community seems so lost. I think what Dr. Murthy talks about is part of it. I don’t think about time in this way. I’m always trying to maximize the time I spend with people, instead of just being with them.
The irony, of course, is how often I write about the best way to help people struggling with healing and mental health issues – just be with them. Yet, I don’t seem to realize how important it is to just be with our people regardless of what’s going on in their lives.
Sharing – ‘They Aren’t Who You Think They Are’
If nothing else, I hope you’ll go read the article for two reasons. One, to recognize how difficult it can be to come forward, and have leaders dismiss your claims, so that you know how not to run any organizations that you and your kids are involved with, and two, to recognize how certain cultural values create a space for abusers. Churches rely on charismatic leaders, but without proper safeguards and oversight, you’ll attract some very charismatic evildoers too. Also, understand that environments with such a strong focus on sexual purity, create a culture where kids are desperate to not do the “worst thing” and are susceptible to this kind of grooming, not to mention a lot of shame around a very natural subject. That shame only increases the secrecy around sex, and again creates a place where secrets can thrive. DO NOT BE A PLACE WHERE SECRETS THRIVE!
Shared Links (weekly) Feb. 13, 2022
