Victims of image-based abuse - including revenge porn - report high levels of depression and fear for their own safety, a survey of young Australians has found.
More than one in five young Australians have experienced some form of image-based abuse, with victims twice as likely as non-victims to report psychological distress.
A nationwide online survey of almost 4300 Australians aged 16 to 49 found image-based abuse was far more common and affected a wider range of people than previously thought.
Men were just as likely as women to be victims of image-based abuse while minority groups were especially vulnerable.
One in two indigenous Australians and 56 per cent of disabled people reported abuse.
The majority of those experiencing "sextortion" - threats to share images - reported high levels of psychological distress, consistent with moderate to severe depression. Almost half feared for their safety.
"Image-based abuse has emerged so rapidly as an issue that inevitably our laws and policies are struggling to catch up," RMIT University's Dr Nicola Henry said.
The researchers from RMIT and Monash universities recommended a range of reforms including making image-based abuse a crime under federal law and better support services for victims.
A dedicated helpline in the UK, set up two years ago, provides free and confidential legal advice and support via phone and email.
"We need to rethink our approach both from a legal perspective but also as a community, to change attitudes that often blame the victims and play down the very real harm caused by image-based abuse," RMIT's Dr Anastasia Powell said.
Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said her office is building a national complaints portal for this kind of abuse.
"But victims can come to the eSafety office now," she told ABC.
"Since October, we've had 300 reports of image-based abuse and we will provide support in any way we can."
Victims can seek support at esafety.gov.au
The researchers will present their findings at a free public lecture at RMIT University on Friday evening.
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