A new Massachusetts law addressing the consequences of creating and sharing sexually explicit digital images – the “Revenge Porn” law – also acknowledges that education for all young people on responsible media use is essential in this environment of rapid advancement of communications technology. While the law requires that a diversion education program be available for K-12 educators to teach students about the consequences of sharing intimate sexual images, it goes further by encouraging general media literacy skills development in a variety of subjects for all students. 

“The law elevates media literacy as a priority in K-12 schools in the Commonwealth for the first time and supports our overarching goal of integrating media literacy education throughout the curriculum,” said Erin McNeill, CEO and founder of Media Literacy Now. “Sometimes addressing specific harms can lead to broader solutions. We’re very pleased that lawmakers chose to include the preventative and empowering solution of media literacy while addressing the urgent need to address the growing problem of nonconsensual sharing of sexually explicit digital images.”

The new law addresses the consequences of creating and sharing sexually explicit digital images. While “sexting” — or voluntarily sharing one’s intimate sexual images through text and messaging– has grown popular over the past several decades between teens as well as adults, unfortunately so has the non-consensual sharing of those images to wider audiences. This law and the skills of self-reflection learned through media literacy education are timely, as the evolution of AI now allows the creation and sharing of fabricated though highly realistic explicit images with a person’s likeness without their consent. Whether real or “deep fake,” the impacts can be devastating for young people.

Media Literacy Now worked with the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy, on an early version of a teen sexting-related bill to include the media literacy language. As the law expanded over time, Rep. Roy ensured that media literacy provisions stayed in place as a crucial element of the legislation.  

“The provisions directed towards media literacy as part of the programming will have a tremendous impact and help prevent young people from being entangled in a web of transmittal of images that can cause traumatic and lifetime harm,” said Rep. Roy.

Learn more about MLN’s digital wellness work which aims to expand the understanding of media literacy to include digital wellness and ensure K-12 health education includes media literacy education.