Avoid Stranger Members’ Photos by Turning Off Free Sharing on Your Phone
Old School: Insatiable Subway Dude pleases himself in public. New School: An insatiable dude on the subway throws you a picture of a dick. Ah, the progress of technology!
The New York Post reported this weekend that yes, “aerial shots of the penis are the latest terrifying trend on the subway.” (This type of harassment isn’t limited to genitals and public transportation – earlier this summer, one woman said she had an AirDropped photo of Pepe , a frog meme turned into a hate symbol.)
This wave of “cyber flashing” is made possible by AirDrop reception settings – you can receive from anyone, no one, or just your contacts. According to Gothamist , “Some people don’t realize that their phones are set to receive AirDrops from ‘everyone’, and this is what perverts are using to send photos to anyone with this setting within Bluetooth range.”
To make sure your phone is safe, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. (If you turn off Bluetooth, you should be fine.)
If you are in New York City, you can report sexual harassment to the MTA. In other cities, check with your local public transport authority.