5 tips to navigate consent online and IRL

Enthusiastic consent is a non-negotiable prerequisite in any kind of intimate interaction — online or IRL. But because we’ve never been spoken to about consent or been taught about it formally, we often find it difficult to fully understand it. “Will it be weird if I ask?”, “Won’t it be awkward?”, “How will I know?”- these are some questions we have often asked ourselves sooner or later. In a survey conducted by Tinder in India, almost 40 per cent of young adults revealed that they want to learn about how to navigate consent. The survey was conducted by YouGov for Tinder with a sample size of 1,018 Indian young adults (18-30) across Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. So here are 5 tips on how to navigate consent online and IRL:

1. Online interactions require consent too!

It’s often misinterpreted that consent applies only to intercourse or penetrative sex. But that’s untrue. Any sort of intimate act– be it hugging, kissing, or touching requires physical consent.

The same rules translate to the online world. Digital intimacy acts like sexting, video calling, sending nudes, or anything that requires sexual vulnerability or intimacy from your partner needs consent.

Consent online can be obtained by communicating clearly before you send any messages, photos, or videos. You need to ensure that your partner is in a safe environment, is open to digital intimacy, and that you can also trust them with whatever content you sent.

1. If you’re unsure, ask

The best way to not violate consent and clarify any confusion is to speak up and ask your partner. Never take your partner’s silence as a yes, or their lack of a no as a yes. 34 per cent of young adults in India said they find it awkward to have such conversations. Well are some simple, non-awkward phrases you can try online and IRL:

If you’re sexting or being intimate online

• “Can I send a pic?