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Nude images

Sending nudes is when someone sends a sexual image of themselves to another person. This is often thought to mean sending fully naked photos, but can also include semi-nude, topless or sexually explicit photos or videos.

Sexting generally refers to people sending sexual messages to each other, and can include images, videos or just words.

You might have heard the terms nude images or Youth Produced Sexual Imagery (YPSI) before, perhaps whilst learning about this topic in school or college. Nude images / YPSI refers to any nude or sexual images that you take of yourself if you’re under 18. It is illegal to take, own or share these images.

What does the law say?

If you’re under 18, it is against the law to send nude or sexual images and videos of yourself to anyone else, even if the person you’re sending it to is also under 18, if you’re in a relationship, and if you’re having sex with them. It is also against the law for someone to save or share a nude or sexual image or video of ANYONE under the age of 18.

Will I get in trouble?

It’s important to remember that this law is in place to protect you, not to get you in trouble. When deciding what to do, the police will consider a few things, including: age difference, consent, power imbalance, pressure and intentions.
If images are shared between two people of a similar age who are both under 18, and they were shared with consent within a healthy relationship, it is unlikely that the police would press charges against either of these people, although it could still be recorded.

If someone threatens to share a nude of someone else, they can get in trouble with the police, even if they don’t do it.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfakes

Deepfakes are fake images, videos or audio that have been made using artificial intelligence (AI) to seem like real content, often showing people doing or saying things that they haven’t done or said. Nude deepfakes are where a person is made to look nude or semi-nude and are almost always created without permission from the person who is in the deepfake. It is against the law to create or share nude or sexual deepfake images and anyone who creates or shares them could face time in prison.

Why do people send nudes?

Sending nudes can seem like a normal and fun part of building a connection with someone, especially if everyone your age is saying they are doing it. Some people find it easier to flirt and share feelings via messages rather than in person and so might find sexting and sending nudes an easier way of communicating when it comes to sex.

Sometimes, people can feel pressured to send nudes or feel worried about saying no. Sharing nudes, even if you’re over 18, should always be consensual. You can read more about consent and pressure below and on the Consent page.

Whatever your reasons, it’s important to take a moment to think before you send, considering the risks and whether it’s something you really want to do.

What are the risks?

It’s important to be aware of the risks before sharing nudes so you can make an informed decision and decide if it’s worth it.

Lack of control

Once you have sent an image or video, you can never really know who is going to see it. You might trust the person you are sending it to but what might happen if you were to fall out or break up? There are things you can do to get an image removed from public places online, but it can’t be easily removed from some places including private devices, WhatsApp or private messages.

Blackmail

If the wrong person got their hands on the image or video, they could potentially use it to try to blackmail you into doing something you don’t want to do. Blackmail is never ok and not your fault if it happens. Speak to a trusted adult immediately if someone threatens you in this way.

Mental health

Having your private images seen by people you don’t want to see them can be upsetting. You may feel embarrassed, betrayed or overwhelmed by the situation, and bullying could lead to feeling isolated. It’s important to know that there is emotional support available, and you are not alone.

The law

It is against the law to send, own or share a nude or sexual image of someone under 18, and you or the other person could potentially get in trouble with the law – see ‘What does the law say?’ section for more information.

Consent and pressure

Pause, Play, Stop Online (SARSAS Support)

You should never feel pressured into sending nudes or sexting if you don’t want to, and it’s important to make sure that you don’t pressure anyone else to send them, even if you don’t mean to.

When considering whether to send a nude, think:

Is this something I really want to do?
Is someone putting pressure on me or making me feel like I can’t say no?
Am I doing it because it makes me feel good, or because I feel like I should to fit in or to make someone like me more?

If you aren’t 100% sure that it’s something you want to do, then you don’t have to do it. If someone is putting pressure on you then it’s important to tell a trusted adult who can help you.

Pressure can look like:

‘If you really liked me, you’d send me a photo’
Asking you again and again, even when you’ve said no or you’re not sure
‘Everyone else is doing it, why won’t you?’
‘I’ve sent you one now so it’s only fair if you send me one back’
Threatening or blackmailing you
Being offered money or gifts in exchange for nudes
Worrying about getting into trouble or something bad happening if you don’t send
‘I spent money on you, so you owe me’
Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or like you have no choice

We’ve been exchanging nudes – does that mean we should have sex?

/pSexting and sending nudes are very different from having sex with someone, and doing one doesn’t mean you have to do the other. You might enjoy flirting with someone over text, and even fantasising with them about sex, but that doesn’t mean you are under contract to do any of those things in real life. It’s normal to explore ideas that you might not want to do, and no one should make you feel pressured into doing anything you don’t want to.

Equally, it’s also completely ok to be in a sexual relationship with someone and not want to send nudes or sext with them.

Cyberflashing

Cyberflashing is when someone sends a nude photo or video to another person without their consent, either of themselves or of someone else. This can be by complete strangers or by someone you know and might even be in a relationship with.

It’s important to ask for consent before sending any nude images or videos even if you’ve sent them to that person before. You might think it’s flirty or exciting, but that person might feel uncomfortable, or it could be an inappropriate time or place. You might love exchanging nudes with your partner, but they could be sat next to their grandma or in school and be in for an awkward conversation!

If someone has sent you an unwanted sexual image, it can be shocking, and you might not know how to feel or react. If this has happened to you, you can block the sender, report it to the social media site and speak to a trusted adult.

My image has been shared – help!

It can feel really scary if your image has been shared with others without your consent, but it’s important to know that there are things you can do.

Speak to the person who shared it and ask them to remove it.
Report it to the social media platform – they have a legal responsibility to take it down.
Use Childline’s Report Remove tool to get it removed from anywhere public
Speak to a trusted adult – they can help you with the practical steps and provide emotional support if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Report Remove: removing nude images online (Childline)

These tips can also be used if you are worried about someone else under 18 who has had their image shared. You might be worried if you’ve seen an image or video of someone under 18 that you’ll get into trouble, especially if you’ve found them when visiting adult websites, but it’s important to report them so that they can receive help.