Digital consent - meaning and definition
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Definition
Digital consent applies the principles of consent to online life: asking before sending explicit content, sharing photos, tagging someone, tracking location or accessing their devices.
At a glance
- Applies consent principles to online life and devices.
- Covers asking before sending explicit content, sharing photos or tagging someone.
- Other people's images, data and devices are theirs to control.
- Sharing passwords or locations should be a mutual choice, never a demand.
- Secretly monitoring a partner's phone is a common sign of control.
In detail
Technology creates many new ways to cross boundaries, from forwarding private messages to demanding passwords or installing tracking apps. Digital consent means treating other people's images, data and devices as theirs to control.
In relationships, sharing passwords or locations can be a mutual choice, but it should never be demanded. Monitoring a partner's phone or location without agreement is a common feature of controlling relationships.
In a sentence
- Asking before posting a photo of a friend is basic digital consent.
- Digital consent means my partner doesn't get to read my messages without asking.
Common questions
Is it okay for couples to share locations or passwords?
It can be, if both people genuinely choose it and can change their minds. It should never be demanded, and refusing should not lead to anger or punishment.
What are examples of digital consent?
Asking before sending an explicit image, checking before posting or tagging a photo of someone, not forwarding private messages, and not installing tracking apps on someone else's phone.