Revenge porn cases rocketed over lockdown. Here are 5 ways to stay safe

Nothing is wrong with an adult sharing private images consensually. In fact, 43% of women and 27% of men in the UK have sent a private or sexual image, according to a recent report published by Refuge. Now, as coronavirus measures are forcing people to stay at home and more couples to do long-distance relationships, this number is set to rise. But while sending nudes is an increasingly common part of modern dating, it also comes with certain risks. Image-based abuse or so-called ''revenge porn'' happens when a person's nude or sexual image is shared without their consent or permission. This month, the UK government-funded Revenge Porn Helpline reported a 22% rise in cases from last year, with campaigners and activists saying lockdowns have exacerbated the problem.''The lockdown produced an extreme set of circumstances which are bringing a lot of problems, '' said David Wright, director of the UK Safer Internet Centre, according to the BBC.''What we are seeing here, however, suggests something more long-term has happened which could mean we will be busier than ever before. It's worrying to think this could be the new normal, '' he added. Insider spoke to digital privacy advocate Jo O'Reilly to discover some of the best ways to stay safe when sharing intimate images with your partner online. With so many platforms at our fingertips, it's easy to send pictures without thinking about where your data goes.''If you're going to send anything that you don't want anyone else to see, you want to be careful of what platform you're using, '' said O'Reilly.