The Psychology of MMS Videos

Every time an MMS video gets leaked, Google Trends shows how that video goes viral. Especially, the recent incidents of Pakistani Tiktokers—Minahil Malik, Imsha Rehman, Kanwal Aftab, and Mathira Khan.

It is crazy to see how frequently MMS videos are leaking nowadays. It is really shocking and sad.

Someone’s private moments have become our entertainment. When we see those moments, we gossip about them. We share and laugh about it.

With each new leaked MMS video going viral, many questions were cropping up in my mind. So, I contemplated, read, and researched on this topic and I’m giving below the breakdown of what I have understood so far.

Who Record MMS Videos?

Yes, who does it? It is an enticing trap and anyone can fall into it.

It could be young people who are curious. Sometimes they make impulsive decisions without thinking about long-term consequences. Maybe the thrill they seek at the moment overrides logic.

It could be some couples in relationships. As they are in relationships, they assume that the “trust” is there. They don’t imagine a scenario where the “trust” could be broken, or the video could leak.

In some cases, influencers or celebrities are recording MMS videos. What if they feel the need to stand out? Maybe they want to be known as daring.

Why Do They Record These Videos?

Yes, why do people record such private videos when they know there is a risk? It could be anything, psychological reasons, emotions, situations, or poor judgement.

Let’s look into some of the real possible reasons.

1. Carelessness

People are emotional, so sometimes they become reckless. I don’t think they care about the consequences. Do they?

At the moment, a partner could say, “Baby, let’s record this moment. Trust me, it is just between us.” Is it really between them? If they feel so, they are fooling themselves because there is nothing 100% secure in the digital world.

You can lose your phone. Your online accounts can get hacked. You can break the trust, maybe later, in the heat of your emotions.

2. The Fun Factor

Well, some people record MMS videos because they feel it is exciting.

They know it is a risky thing. It is a taboo in society. So they may feel an adrenaline rush while recording it.

They may take it as a game of playing with fire, thinking they won’t get burned.

Maybe they want to do something new in their relationships They may think it will spice up their lives.

3. Manipulation Happens

Not everyone is willing to record their private videos. In many cases, I’m sure a partner, especially a male, manipulates the other to let them record.

They may pressure their partner by saying things like, “Don’t you love me? Can’t you do this for me?”

Maybe they use words like trust to manipulate their partners. They may say, “You must trust me. It’s just for me to relive these lovely moments when I’m away from you.”

It is just emotional blackmail, they don’t care about love or trust.

People who agree to it often feel trapped. They are afraid to say no. And they worry about losing the relationship.

4. “It is safe” Illusion

Sometimes, people become naive and unaware. They may convince themselves that the recording is private and no one will ever see it.

I can understand the innocence behind it. People who are being recorded trust their partners. And they don’t imagine a betrayal. Maybe they are under the illusion that storing their private moments on phones or in the cloud is secure. They are not aware of how easily something can leak.

It is a false sense of security. And they don’t realize if that bubble bursts, it will be devastating.

It seems like these people couldn’t recall what some celebrities or public figures had to go through when their MMS videos got leaked and went viral.

5. Want to Feel Desired

Some people record it because they crave validation.

Maybe they want to feel special in front of their partners. If their partner records them, they may take it as proof that they are being cherished. They may feel admired and irresistible.

People crave intimacy. They love the thought that they are irreplaceable to someone else. So, in the heat of the moment, they are ready to express that.

Today, people can’t avoid comparison. They feel insecure because of social media or unrealistic standards of society. Therefore, they may agree to be a part of a private video. Maybe they want to convey to their partners, “See? I’m enough. I’m beautiful. I’m exciting. I’m worth your attention.”

However, this act of being vulnerable can backfire on some people. Because, when the trust is broken, people realize that they have exposed a deeply personal part of themselves.

6. Hidden Motives

Not every person records MMS videos for fun or experiment or to express their self-worth, some people record them because of their hidden motives.

One common hidden motive is control. To gain an upper hand in the relationship, a partner could secretly record a private moment. Later, they can use this recording as a tool for manipulation. They may threaten their partner to expose the video if they don’t comply with their demands.

This behavior shows that there is no love or intimacy. All these partners want is dominance and a way to exploit the other person. In such cases, victims feel trapped. They are unable to make independent choices for fear of public humiliation.

Some people might record these videos with the ill intention of using them for revenge.

Maybe they have anticipated that their relationships would not survive longer. In such situations, people might feel bitter and leak the video to punish their partner.

These people don’t realize that what they have done is cruelty and a deeply violating act. They couldn’t see that their act stemmed from anger, resentment, or a sense of control after the breakup.

Further, some people record these private moments as a status symbol. For them, having or leaking such a video becomes a way to boost their ego. Maybe they want to prove their desirability in front of others.

For such people invading someone’s privacy and leaking it brings them a twisted sense of pride. Maybe they are deliberately looking for a public scandal to prove their importance or how notorious they are.

7. Fame and Attention

Some people leak their own private videos because they are hungry for fame and attention.

Today, almost everyone wants to go viral and what is a better way than leaking an MMS video? Just after leaking, you get instant recognition within a short time.

For them, it is a shortcut to fame. Maybe they completely believe in the saying, “All publicity is good publicity.”

Maybe these people have been observing how much fame and attention some celebrities got after they had leaked their own videos.

But they forget that they are being reckless or impulsive, and it is going to cost them in the long run.

Who Searches for These Videos, and Why?

They are everyday people. People who are curious, impulsive, or have deep psychological issues.

1. Curiosity

The biggest factor is curiosity. People become curious when they get to know that something is private, forbidden, or taboo. They want to learn more about it.

So, when a video leaks, people become hyper-curious and look for every way to uncover the secret behind it. They might think, “Why is this video going viral? What’s so special in it?”

People tend to become immoral when it comes to peeking into someone else’s private life. It is like wanting to eavesdrop on a juicy conversation or opening someone’s private diary.

2. Herd Mentality

Herd mentality is another reason.

When a video goes viral, people don’t want to miss it. If their friends, colleagues, or online communities are discussing it, they may feel like watching it just to be part of the conversation.

Nobody wants to feel left out or ignorant when others are reacting, sharing, or judging. This social pressure decides how viral a video will be.

3. Voyeurism

Some people get a thrill when they see someone’s private moments that were never meant for them. Psychologists call this twisted side of human nature voyeuristic behavior.

They are not just curious, they look for the darker kind of excitement that comes from crossing boundaries. For such people, the video represents power, control, or a way to distract themselves from their own lives.

4. Moral Superiority

Many searches for these videos to criticize or gossip about the individuals involved.

They love pointing their fingers and saying, “Look at these stupid people. How careless they are. I wouldn’t have done that.”

Maybe they think their culture or religion is superior, “See, how morally loose this girl or woman is. Our girls and women are so superior as they have higher moral values.” This kind of behavior allows people to feel better about themselves by comparing their own lives to someone else’s mistakes.

What Happens with Victims?

When someone’s private video is leaked and goes viral, it is not only momentary embarrassment, the damage goes far beyond it.

The victims have to go through deeply invasive trauma that can reshape their entire lives.

Basically, the victims feel like they are being emotionally stripped bare in front of the entire world. And they don’t see any place to hide.

It is hard to fathom what exactly they go through, so the following explanations just give an overview of their pain and suffering, not a complete picture.

1. A Shattered Sense of Self

When private videos get leaked, victims face disbelief. They may think: How did this happen? Why me?

As these victims are filled with guilt and shame, they often blame themselves and question their decisions over and over. Maybe they ask themselves:

“Why did I trust him?”

“Why did I even record that”

When they blame themselves, it is not rational. Society’s deep-rooted victim-blaming culture makes them feel that they are at fault for their own exploitation.

Many studies have shown that these victims experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and even PTSD.

A study conducted in 2020 by the Cyber Rights Initiative stated that 93% of individuals whose private videos or images were leaked reported significant emotional stress. And 82% of individuals experience difficulties in work or relationships.

2. Social Judgement and Isolation

When an MMS video goes viral, the victim has to deal with two things at a time—dealing with their own pain and fighting society’s harsh judgement.

Strangers on the internet, coworkers, even friends and family might treat them as if they are at fault. This kind of public shaming is persistent.

It is the same herd mentality that fuels the internet’s obsession with such leaks—someone’s private pain turns into entertainment.

And that’s not all, victims often find themselves isolated. Their relationships become strained or broken.

In conservative societies or cultures, victims can face even worse. Their families can disown them. If engaged, their marriage can be called off because of “honor”.

3. The Never-Ending Fear: “It is Still Out There”

One of the most haunting aspects of a leaked video is that everything on the internet is permanent.

Even after a victim manages to remove the video from major platforms, copies often resurface on obscure sites or private collections. This creates a lingering fear—What if it goes viral again?

This constant fear and anxiety of being recognized or judged leaves victims feeling like they can never truly move on.

For some, this fear becomes paralyzing.

As a study by researchers at the University of California found it, victims of non-consensual image sharing often experience long-term hypervigilance. They become paranoid and isolate themselves from social interactions or public spaces.

4. Career and Reputation

The professional consequences can be just as severe.

Many employers might hesitate to hire someone whose name is tied to a viral scandal. They won’t consider the fact that they were the victim.

When it comes to influencers or public figures, a leaked video can be career-ending. Brands pull partnerships. Fans lose trust. And people often unfairly reduce the individual to a “scandal” instead of seeing them for their work or talent.

Let’s take the famous case of Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna. When Rob had a bitter feud with Chyna, he leaked explicit content of Chyna. While the focus was often on Rob’s actions, Chyna faced persistent public scrutiny. People tied her name more to the leak than her career.

This kind of victim-blaming shows how society fixates on the wrong details. They focus on condemning the victim instead of holding the perpetrator responsible.

5. The Emotional Costs of Betrayal

What is the core of the trauma? Betrayal.

When victims find out the origin of the leaked videos, they come to know that it is from the people they trust. Like their partners, friends, or even family members.

This betrayal cuts them deeply and shatters their ability to trust others in the future. Victims start guarding themselves emotionally and fear vulnerability and intimacy. And over time, this can make them live an isolated life because they find it difficult to form meaningful relationships. They lose such hopes.

6. Long-Term Psychological Effects

When it comes to psychological effects on the victims, they last for years. In their daily lives, they deal with anxiety and depression. They experience paranoia as they fear that the video may resurface or strangers may recognize them.

In some cases, victims suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They start having flashbacks or nightmares. In some situations that remind them of the incident, they may feel intense distress. Sometimes, they may also have feelings of powerlessness.

Such emotional turmoil can affect their ability to form meaningful connections or enjoy life.

Can Victims Heal?

Scars don’t disappear but they can heal. Right therapy can help victims gain control of their emotions and rebuild their sense of self-worth.

Having a support group also helps as it offers the victims a sense of community and reminds them that they are not alone.

However, the real change lies in society’s hands. We need to shift our perspectives and stop blaming victims. There is a need for stricter laws against non-consensual content sharing and perpetrators.

Further, instead of treating these leaks as scandals or entertainment, we must see them for what they are: violations of privacy, trust, and humanity.

A leaked video isn’t about the moment of exposure, it is about a life that has changed forever.

These victims have emotional wounds, deep wounds. Every day, they suffer social stigma. As a society, we owe it to the victims to do better.

They will heal when we show compassion and understand their pain. They will heal when we stop turning their trauma into a spectacle. They will heal when we hold those responsible accountable and create a society that values privacy over entertainment.

Main Photo Credit: Photo by Loc Dang on Pexels