Consider yourselves warned. Australian model Emily Sears is causing a commotion online because of her very unique way of dealing with men who send her unsolicited NSFW photos via social media.
The Los Angeles-based model, who has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram, recently opened up to BuzzFeed News about the problem that led to her brilliant solution.
“I usually receive at least one or two d–k pics per day, at minimum,” she said. “It’s just been consistently happening for so long. I became absolutely fed up with these kinds of disturbing and disgusting messages and comments online.”
To combat the influx of NSFW photos, Sears has decided to forward the inappropriate photos to the men’s girlfriends and partners as a way to publicly shame the perpetrators. (Sears explained that she’ll search through the men’s Instagram accounts until she finds the username of their unsuspecting partner.)
“Here’s when happens when you send me d–k pics to DM,” she tweeted earlier this month. “I do not play. Names hidden to protect this woman’s privacy.”
Here's when happens when you send me dick pics to DM. I do not play. Names hidden to protect this woman's privacy.✋? pic.twitter.com/IDZnkUpfXB
— Emily Sears (@emilysears) January 18, 2016
In the tweet, Sears also included a screen-grab of a man’s erect penis and her text to the man’s girlfriend, along with the photo.
“Terribly sorry to tell u that ur partner is sending pictures of his genitals to models on Instagram,” the message reads. “I’m telling you this because I’m a girls girl and I think women need to stick together. I want you to know that all types of men do this kind of thing and it’s no reflection on you. You deserve better treatment than this.”
Alternatively, Sears sometimes replies to the inappropriate messages with a photo of the man and his girlfriend.
Sears and her pal, a DJ named Laura, say that in turning the tables on these men, they hope to make the offenders realize how crude they’re being.
“We send the photos as a reminder for them to have respect for women,” Sears said. “I think it provides an accountability that people seem to lose online; being behind a screen gives people a false sense of anonymity.… I have noticed since posting my responses as a warning that the number has been significantly lower. I think my followers are slowly getting the message.”