The debate about consent and rape on social media

Rape is a major social problem and leads to serious health problems. 1 in 5 girls and women in Norway report having been raped at least once in their lives. Psychological complications following sexual assault can include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicidal thoughts, social withdrawal or anxiety.

In recent years there has been a growing debate in Norway about the introduction of consent-based rape legislation.

The survey shows that when consent and the consent law are discussed on Facebook, six out of ten comments support a consent-based rape law. This support has increased steadily over the last six years. At the same time, the report shows that there are still many misconceptions in the Norwegian Facebook debate about what consent is and how it will work in a legal sense. There is also a lot of irony and mockery. This shows that there is still a need for information and knowledge about consent.

The report also shows that more than one in ten comments about consent and the law of consent contain rape myths. The most common myth is that the victim must take some responsibility for the assault. Rape myths continue to reinforce stereotypes about the actions and desires of women and girls, particularly when it comes to sex.