It often begins with a lovely encounter online, a friendly exchange, a relationship that seems sincere. Then, suddenly, the mood changes: the tone is no longer one of seduction, but of demands. Digital blackmail sets in gradually, until it becomes hard to get out of. Knowing how to recognise the first signs takes away its main weapon: surprise.
This capsule details three signs to watch for: excessive insistence, when someone pushes you to send an intimate photo or video despite your refusals, playing on guilt or affection (“if you loved me, you would do it”); the power test, when the first discreet threats appear after content has been obtained; and social intimidation, when the abuser proves he knows your loved ones, your networks, your address, to make you feel hunted with no way out.
If you feel you are falling into this trap, act early: stop all dialogue, don’t negotiate, don’t reply; keep the traces without deleting them; and break the cycle by immediately contacting someone you trust or the competent authorities in Benin. Digital blackmail is gender-based violence. It is not your mistake, it is his crime. You are not alone, the law is on your side.
This is an initiative of Women EdTech, supported by CARE Benin/Togo and funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), as part of the Digital Safe Space sub-project, phase 2 of the Féministes en Action programme (FeA2).
